Cambridge chiks Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 (edited) Hi, we recently bought a beautiful white Leghorn, who is laying spectacular eggs. She is however also an escapologist! whenever I let them free-range she flies out of the chicken area into the veg patch, my boarders and lawn (which she digs up) or the neighbours garden. She has had BOTH wings clipped and is still managing to clear 6ft fences. I spend all day running between my new baby and damage limitation in the garden and can't take it anymore. I don't want to lock them up all the time and it seems cruel to leave only her in and the others out...doesn't it? Anybody got any advice! Help! Edited May 12, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Only clip one wing. This unbalances her- if you clip both she simply learns to fly with shorter wings! Till the clipped wings grow back, and you can clip one, you may have to keep her locked up. Hopefully someone else may have another idea.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Hmmm leghorns are known Houdini's. All mine have been & so have the chhoks that have leghorn in them. Even with their wings clipped they escape. So we give up now. The fly in & out of their enclosure all day long - but are always in at night. They are very naughty, but comical & I love their floppy bonnet style combs. I'm afraid there is not much you can do except for a walk in run. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Rhode Island Red Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Leghorns are particularly bad for escaping, thanks to their small bodies and largeish wings. Clip the feathers on one wing and it should solve the problem Mr Rhode Island Red Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 We have a little fenced off bit in our garden, to grow fruit, veg and some flowers. I got some new flowers on monday. the next day, they got in and dug them all up!, including the strawberries and forget-me-nots. . One of the girls was having a dustbath in my strawbs when i got home today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambridge chiks Posted May 13, 2011 Author Share Posted May 13, 2011 Thanks for all your advice. Will try clipping just one wing- how long do they take to grow back? Until then I guess I'm just going to have to write off veg this summer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 They grow back after they moult... which they do every year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
