Will chickens fly out of my backyard?

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Bobo

Bobo

In the Brooder
11 Years
Jan 19, 2009
10
0
22
this probably sounds like a dumb question to you folks, but I live in a suburban home and want to keep a couple of hens for eggs. I don't want them to roam, because I may have to keep them illegally. I have kept parrots, and boy are they more trouble and noise than chickens, and you have to clip their wings. Do chickens need their wings clipped to keep them from being able to fly over the fence? I know they have to be able to get up to a roost. Thank you for your advice.
 
If your fences are 6' high or less. They'll fly over them.

Perhaps not with clipped wings but I have birds that can almost Jump 4 feet without use of wings.
 
Thank you for your quick reply. Maybe someone knows about the wing clipping. I would have to keep them penned up.
I'm very happy to see a growing movement to change local laws to allow chickens in cities. As I said, my parrots were much more of a nuisance to the neighbors than any chicken.
 
You should clip the wings if you really want to control them. You will only have to clip one wing and that just make them wobbly when they try to fly and might discourage them.
 
Thank you. When you clip parrot wings, you only clip the flight feathers on one wing. It doesn't hurt them at all. They can still flutter a short distance, but can't fly away.
 
Getting them off the roost after they have gone to sleep is the easiest way I have found to clip wings, and even though clipping one throws them off balance, mine have still gone over a four-foot fence. I clip both so they really can't get any lift.

Welcome to the world of backyard chickens-and civil disobedience! This site enables both to a high degree!
 
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I have never done this to my chickens only because we had to cover our coup and run because of the hawks that are in this area. I also read somewhere that the feathers that are clipped might have a problem molting and will need help, is that true?
 
Wow! I didn't even consider hawks! We have a nesting pair that patrols our neighborhood daily. I had a friend who bought 12 beautiful fancy breed chickens and left them unattended. In the end they were all killed and eaten by hawks, racoons, etc.

As to the wing clipping, I don't think it affects anything. You only clip the tips of the feathers and you make sure there is no bleeding. Most domestic parots and other birds have theirs clipped without incident. They do not molt however.
 
My heavier breeds don't leave..those are buff orps, RIR and my cochin. My lighter breeds fly right up and over. I clipped their wings and they still go! I tried one wing and both..neither phased them at all. I have given up. Several have been taken by the hawks. My roos stay in the yard and the "smart"girls stay with them...the others are too far away to hear the warning call. I have had 4 hens taken by the hawk or fox. I have tried penning them in, but they aren't happy in there.

Sounds like your best bet would be to have a covered run for them!
 

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