Wing clipping

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hi i clipped all of mine since they were all going out of their coop yard by flappin gup to various leg holds and then up and over to other gardens... so clipped them, at night, and am now going to make a wire ceiling over the whole coop yard (not too big of a place) since cats go in... the birds still manage to flap up to roost but dont go flying off up in to the olive tree.
when i first got them thats what they did and i spent all night roaming around our living quarters with a flash light and my small dog trying to find escapees. it turns out they all roosted , smart birds, up in the olive tree, but int he morning they came down to graze on the lawns and of course we have tons of family dogs that patrol all day outside... a de headed chicken in someone's backyard would have been the end of my backyard chicken endeavor, so clipped they were, and from tomorrow totally fenced in.
 
There is another way to keep a chicken clipped for life, but it has to be done when they are very young chicks (day 1-3). You clip the joint at the end of the wing completely off from the tip. Make sure to apply an antiseptic medicine to prevent any kind of infection to the chick. The bird will grow a lifetime and never fly.
 
I clip on a need to basis, when I close the yard up there is a reason, and they need to stay in. I find most hens cant get more than 3 feet off the ground, and my Rooster found it just enuf insult to keep him in (he can jump the 4 foot fence with much effort). I had 1 hen that even with clipped wing she was getting out, spotted her flapping her wings and climbing the 4 foot fence, moved her to an area that only has only an 18" fence and she (and 2 others) stay there, but the roosters just wont let her be,,,, and they dont go into the area she is in even though they could, now only 1 rooster and he (and the flock) visit. Another flock of younger birds also with a roo, come by and visit also. Both flocks free range the same area,,, for now.
 
Our birds typically only get clipped if they try to venture across the road (only had 1 in 10 years that did this to steal the neighbors cat food) or they venture into the neighbors yard. Then they go in the pen for a few weeks to get used to staying where they should.
 
In answer to the original question, I'd leave them unclipped if they are truly free-range, with no fence. There's no point to clipping wings if you're not keeping them behind a fence.

We do clip our hens' wings. It's not permanent--new flight feathers grow in after every moult and they need to be clipped again. Usually I don't bother doing it until I see an adventurous hen or two outside the pasture fence--once one or two get out, they all start to think it's a good idea. Our hens have to stay in their pasture, for protection from local dogs and for the protection of my garden and my neighbor's flower beds.
 
I clip some of my hens wings ( RIR). They were flying over a 6 foot fence. It's easy.
As for the house cats, my one cat will attempt to stalk, as soon as whichever hen turns around, she takes off. My neighbors cats have never bothered them either.
 

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