pieshop Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Hi folks, I'm getting ready to let my brood out into the garden... It's pretty enclosed but I think I may need a couple of extra foot on the top of the fences. I don't really want to clip their wings if I'm honest but I do have some pretty good flyers including 3 Golden speckled Hamburg's, and a cross which would give the Wright brothers a run for their money. How high would you recommend? Or do you think clipping is a worth while alternative? My fences are currently 5ft 5" at the lowest point but their coop is 5ft at the lowest point giving them a good leg up... Thanks, Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Hm, I had a campine, which are similar to hamburgs. She was a persistent flier all her life, unlike the hybrids who seem to forget how after a while. Despite clipping both wings, she persistently got into my veg patch over a 7' high fence, and spent her days high in the trees raiding the bird feeders. I gave up after a while because although she went high, she never went far and would always come running for meal worms or corn. Not much help I know, sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dance in the dark Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 but snowy, as I understand it, you should never clip both wings, cos the whole point of clipping wings is to unbalance them, if you clip both wings you redress the balance, and it makes no difference. I had some legbars who was decent fliers, but I clipped their wings and they gave up. Also, as long as you have plenty of space for the chickens, mostly they just don't show any desire to escape in my experience, but some breed as more content than others and I have never had hamburgs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Yes I know. One wing clipped made no difference, so both wings were clipped in desperation - still no difference. And as I said, she didn't escape - she just liked to get up high! The Campine is a very similar breed to the Hamburg - tight feathered, white egg layers. I would suggest that short periods of free ranging, supervised, would be fine. You may have problems if you left them alone for any length of time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dance in the dark Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 I agree with snowy, and I understand the desperation you can get sometimes. I like the look of campines but didn't know they were such eager fliers. That being said, some of mine hang around on top of the coal bunker and could easily jump over the fence but don't. I would consider just letting them FR and if the show no inclination to escape, then you can go from there Pieshop, but it's ultimately your decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
