hopingforchickens Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Sorry it's a question a day at the minute, but such a steep learning curve! Today I clipped the girls wings as they are quite flappy and I'm paranoid they will fly over to next door when I let them out their WIR! My friend who is a hen keeper came to help me but she's never done it herself so it was a bit like the blind leading the blind I trimmed about 3-4 inches along one wing on each of them, does that sound right? I was half expecting them not to jump up onto the top of the house tonight as a result, but they did On a completely other note, hubby, who wanted nothing to do with them went out by himself and came back all proud because he'd put them to bed (a bit early at 8.45 and didn't de-poo, block the nest box or lock the door, but hey it's a start!) Lovli Tallulah even let him stroke her - ahhh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 You should cut them back about 6cm, so they're in line with the secondary feathers on the wing closer to the body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopingforchickens Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share Posted June 2, 2011 I think that's what I've done it worries me slightly that they can still get up onto the top of the house, it's not much lower than the fence... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostock422 Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Don't cut them more than 6cm, and only clip one wing, i know people who have clipped both wings. They'll still be able to fly 4 ft or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopingforchickens Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share Posted June 2, 2011 Don't cut them more than 6cm, and only clip one wing, i know people who have clipped both wings. They'll still be able to fly 4 ft or so. Thanks I'm pretty sure I've done enough, as my friend said it may be better to under do it than over at this stage. Will have another look to see if the are in line with the secondary feathers tomorrow, if they are still talking to me, they weren't very impressed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissie218 Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Hi Guys Re'Wing clipping - how much?' Could you tell me what is' blocking the nest box?' I've never heard of it and I'm not blocking my nest...should I be? I'm a new girl and not sure what I'm doing yet!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Maybe so they can't sleep in there and soil the nesting material? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopingforchickens Posted June 3, 2011 Author Share Posted June 3, 2011 Maybe so they can't sleep in there and soil the nesting material? Yes exactly this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissie218 Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Thanks my new ex-batts are soiling their nest every day so I'll try that, I assume then that I 'unblock' the nesting box early in the morning when I let them out so that they can go back in and lay? Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopingforchickens Posted June 8, 2011 Author Share Posted June 8, 2011 yes I unblock it when I let them out in the morning x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 This might help... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
