Unsecure chicken perches

[Guest]

One of our hens, Attila (Maran x RIR) is obsessed with escaping, she has managed to escape several times but comes running back to the sound of food. We have fields behind us and she is very keen to get into the rape crop. We've built up the hens area and whilst she is thwarted at where she used to get out she spent most of today pacing and looking for somewhere else.

 

Why is she doing this and is there anything I can do.

 

The other hens show no interest in leaving and are very settled. Attila is laying fine and seems healthy. Should I have her wings clipped?

 

The hens area now resembles Alcatraz.

Edited April 19, 2011 by Guest

[Sammiboo]

Yes I would clip her wing! That's my personal opinion. I don't agree with wing clipping unless it's for the birds best interest. I've clipped all mine

[beach chick]

I would clip her too - just one wing tho, that's enough to unbalance her so she wont be able to take off... once she is laying and a bit heftier she'll probably just not bother.

[Lavenders_Blue]

What a naughty hen! She is only pacing up and down because she has got out before and knows what's on the other side I'd clip her wing, and once she gets used to the idea that she's not going anywhere she'll soon settle down.

 

I'm looking after some hens for a friend at the moment, and one of these is also intent on escape. After several weeks of being outwitted by a chicken (and finding her in the neighbour's garden ) I clipped her wing. She very quickly got used to the idea that she wasn't going anywhere and now she is quite happy to scratch around and dustbathe with her friends.

[Guest]

Thanks all. She is now clipped and having a strop currently - God, she is loud! A bizarre thing happened early this morning (pre clip) - she'd managed somehow to get over the picket fence - had jumped onto the trampoline and was trying to figure a way off the trampoline and over the wall into the field - clearly more obsessed with doing this she didn't stop Becky the Border Terrier who was waiting to pounce - Jake the little Lurcher intercepted Becky's intentions with a snap and a growl then barked at Attila who on realising her close escape boinged back over the fence.

 

He tells any dog off that gets too close to the chooks.