Foxy Loxy Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 I'm not sure about clipping my birds wings. On one hand, if I got their wings clipped, I would feel more relaxed about them freeranging around everywhere. On the other hand someone told me it was better not to clip their wings because if a fox was to approach them, at least they could fly away. However, if they flew in to next doors garden, I would not be able to get to them and a fox might get them anyway so therefore, I am now thinking that the sensible thing is to clip their wings. Do you think this is sensible? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 I have not clipped my girls wings. As ex-battery babes i feel a bit mean clipping feathers off when they dont have much to start with I suppose if you are always in the garden with your girls then it wont matter if you dont clip their wings as you will always have your eye on them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 I have clipped mine as the can do what I call startled jumps and 2 persistent offenders have cleared the Omlet netting a couple of times. It hasn't happened since I gave them all a good trim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 I clip my girls wings and yet one still manages to get over an 8' fence. She jumps onto the eglu run and then hurls herself onto the top of the fence. The others watch in amazement and I spend half my life checking on where she is. Some are definitely more agile and daring than others Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Clip their wing (just on one side, though)! They forget how to fly, so that you can let the wing grow again the next year and they can then be both handsome and safe. Hens can fly up into trees if you don't clip them. Just picture it getting dark at 4pm in winter and you not being able to get the girls down from nearby trees. It's not worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landgirl Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Some are definitely more agile and daring than others Jill, out of interest, what breed is your persistent flyer? L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 We had to clip our new girls, especially Kylie she is so small and light. We opened the egg port door and she flew out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 My Miss Pepperpot - the fattest and heaviest of all my girls. I think she is just a show off as she then goes back to the gate to be let back into the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 My Welsummer is a flyer When she was little we shut her in the eglu run if she started trying to escape and she got the idea-it was to escape her persecuters I think. I don't clip, it doesn't always stop them flying and they are established in their territory and only tend to get out under the fence, although I saw Megan sail over the 5 foot fence when something spooked her. They stay put unclipped, and I'm usually around as the pen is not chicken/fox/cat proof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMO Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 I have clipped the wings on mine and they still manage some quite impressive leaps! Especially if they think they are missing out on treats! I'm thinking of running a triple jump competition! AMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheK9s Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Is this one of those "some people do some people don't" type issues? As a complete novice I must admit I don't particularly like the idea of wing clipping but I think that's because A) I know virtually nothing other than it's supposed to stop them flying and B) I feel a bit dodgy about removing what nature intended them to have and C) the thought of actually doing it terrifies me. Is it best to wait and see if it needs to be done first or to do it "just incase"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 We had to clip our new girls, especially Kylie she is so small and light. Is that why she is called Kylie? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 (edited) I did it because I am too old to climb trees or jump over fences into neighbours' gardens, and my birds seemed excessively flighty from the start. It's a matter of personal preference, but it doesn't seem to upset the chickens, and it certainly doesn't hurt them: it's like having your fringe cut. I expect if it were possible to ask them they would choose not to have their wings clipped off; but toddlers would also choose not to have reins, or dogs not to have leads, when walking in traffic. Edited May 31, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 I have clipped the wings on mine and they still manage some quite impressive leaps! Especially if they think they are missing out on treats! I'm thinking of running a triple jump competition! AMO I'll bear that in mind for when I'm chicken-sitting them AMO Mine are all clipped - a couple of them have a great power to weight ratio and can fly like blooming condors Having said that, once they know where their food is, they generally stay put. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanbb Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 I only clipped Ruby my white leghorn as she was leaping and flying everywhere and it was too much of a risk as she managed to get grat height aswell. Mrs Bridges my blue cochin on the otherhand, due to her breed has never really bothered to try. Susan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Is this one of those "some people do some people don't" type issues? As a complete novice I must admit I don't particularly like the idea of wing clipping but I think that's because A) I know virtually nothing other than it's supposed to stop them flying and B) I feel a bit dodgy about removing what nature intended them to have and C) the thought of actually doing it terrifies me. Is it best to wait and see if it needs to be done first or to do it "just incase"? Yes some people do, some don't. It is simply to stop them flying and does no harm. Maybe it depends how confident you would be catching them? You could try with two people, I think there is an omlet guide, it's not scary. I remember we kept taking more off Susannah's wing as she kept escaping, until we eventually realised she was squeezing under the fence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty e Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 I've never clipped mine, and I've had some good flying chooks. I'm contemplating clipping the legbar, as she can fly pretty well, but I always found that once they knew where the food was, they weren't going anywhere. We do have six foot fences though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lailapet Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 I don't know if I will be clipping the wings of mine... We have no fences at all - only fields and fields around the house - and the road a fair way off. There's a few trees in the garden as well as a climbing frame and swings, a shed/carport and it just wouldn't be worth it I'm sure... They'd have to spend the night in the tree if they decide to sleep there as I can't climb up and pick them off the branches. Hopefully they will be sensible enough to go home to the eglu to sleep, but I don't know how sensible they are? First I'd have to learn to catch them without too much flapping about. Laila Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 The breeder clipped the wings of my 2 purebreeds for me when I collected them. I was quite happy though as when we went to get Fizz the araucana from her run she wasn't there! She'd flown onto the roof of the hen house in the next pen! When we went to get her out of there she took off and soared like an eagle back to her own pen! Talk about chicken tag! All of them, even with clipped wings, manage to achieve an impressive bounce and glide across the length of the garden at a height of about 3'. (they still haven't figured out how to get over 2' of chicken wire onto my veg patch yet though ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 didnt bother clipping ours. I think I have more chance of flying than they do !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 I have clipped the wings on mine and they still manage some quite impressive leaps! Especially if they think they are missing out on treats! I'm thinking of running a triple jump competition! AMO I think I'll enter Mavis, she's been out of our 3ft play pen more times than I can count in last 3 days. Funny thing is once she is out she is running around like a headless chicken trying to get back in with the other 2 Chucks (This is also since I clipped their wings). BTW it was easy to do the clipping and the girls didn't notice what we were doing to them. Catching them.... now thats a different story Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 I remember we kept taking more off Susannah's wing as she kept escaping, until we eventually realised she was squeezing under the fence I just snorted my beer cos I was drinking whilst reading this last sentance. Please can you place a warning at the top next time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 Does your nose hurt now? When mine were less atem and played hard to get, I used an anglers landing net to catch them - easy peasy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxy Loxy Posted June 1, 2007 Author Share Posted June 1, 2007 I got their wings clipped today. I am more happy to let them free range around the garden so I decided that it was in their best interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
