Alternate to clipping wings?

[Riven]

I normally clip our call ducks wings, but my daughter is going to show some of them at the fair next year.

Does anyone know if there is any alternate to clipping them? I'd hate to have to confine them to a smaller pen and not let them have access to the pond they're used to and such, yet I don't want them flying away.

I might just have to build them a pen, there are three in particular, two are a pair, then the other is with another hen. Any alternates to clipping?

Thanks

 

[Smartie_Pants]

There's something called pinioning I've seen mentioned here, but I'm not sure exactly what it is. I also don't know if you can show them after having it done either. Maybe you could do a search and find some threads about it.

 

[ChickenToes]

Wing clipping is your only option here, unless you keep them penned. Pinioning is usually done with day old ducklings, because it causes little blood or pain. It's permanent - you remove the pinion joint on one of the bird's wings. On an adult bird it would cause quite a bit of pain and bleeding.

 

[Smartie_Pants]

Quote:
So they actually remove part of the bone? Sounds painful at any age! I guess penning is your only other option, but you could always dig out a place for them to swim, or provide some deep kiddie pools.

 

[Luvducks]

I beleive I saw on this website pictures of show quality Call ducks in a rabbit style pen with wire bottem. A hole was cut in the wire bottem and a dish basin was placed in the hole and filled with water for swimming. This way the show ducks do not get dirty and cannot escape.

My call duck flys but will not leave the chickens but I will do this sort of pen when I get more Call ducks.

Good Luck!

 

[Riven]

Yup, my parents pinion their swans, so I know that's not what I'm looking for!

I think I'll just end up building an enclosed pen for them. We have plenty of room, I'm just trying to keep everything together. If it's all spread out the chores become... well chores! I don't think the hutch style would work, I just don't think they'd be happy in a little pen!

Thanks for all the ideas. For some reason I was thinking there was a "band" or something you could put on their wings that doesn't allow them to fly, but maybe that was some crazy dream I had!