Millie-Annie Posted August 23, 2013 Share Posted August 23, 2013 How old do chickens need to be to have their wings clipped? My two little ones are 14 weeks old, but they are so easily spooked. I let them have a little wander today and one of the ex-batts chased them and they panicked and nearly flew over the fence. If they do, next doors flock will definitely kill them. They are still terrified of humans, in fact they are terrified of everything. Can't say it's something I would look forward to doing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted August 23, 2013 Share Posted August 23, 2013 I clipped my girls before 14 weeks. Just be careful not to clip too high and remember they will moult them before they grow up, by which point mine were too lazy to fly. Mealworms are good to tame with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted August 23, 2013 Share Posted August 23, 2013 When I got my hybrids from omlet, the very lovely man who delivered them showed me where to clip their wings. There is a natural line when you spread the wing, just snip them there. I don't clip mine anymore, only did it the once , then they seem to forget that they cold ever fly. They still jump. I haven't even clipped my new ones, but I do think its personal. If they can get over the fence, then definitely do it. ANy predator could be waiting. I had the opposite where I clipped a quails wings, she escaped, then couldn't fly away from predators . I felt awful. Hens are very different though. They would fly to a predator, it's the Bart Simpson syndrome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millie-Annie Posted August 23, 2013 Author Share Posted August 23, 2013 Thank you, I am definitely going to have to do them. I am giving them mealworms daily, I talk t them, I sit and have a cup of tea with them, but they are still terrified. I don't know whether to push them or to just ignore it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted August 24, 2013 Share Posted August 24, 2013 They're very young still. I've gold a cream legbar about that age. She's petrified of me and boy can she fly, nightmare to get her in after she's been free ranging. She doesn't equate me with food yet, I think that's the key. I keep mixed corn in a container my older girls come running when I rattle it and call "girls". Don't panic about the wing clipping though if I can do it anyone can. Just make sure you've got good sharp scissors. Check on line for a demo, I'm sure there will be one. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millie-Annie Posted August 24, 2013 Author Share Posted August 24, 2013 One of mine is crested cream legbar too, she is the the more easily spooked of the pair yet funnily enough also the bravest. The other one is a Welsummer, she hides behind her sister. They both hide behind their huge Orpington sister Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millie-Annie Posted August 24, 2013 Author Share Posted August 24, 2013 Thank you, looked on You Tube and found a video clip, so job done. It was much easier than I was expecting, catching the little devils was the hardest part Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandhills Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 We clip our at night, when they are a bit more docile. Also easy to catch if they are already in the cube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
