Chickens and Flight

[Bobafett]

Alright...so maybe a few questions have developed as I am watching this chicks grow, leraning more, and planning for the next stages. So chickens are birds and can fly....but at what point are they able to? I would guess it is not until they are fully feathered at the very least, but even these little guys have some serious hops!

Once they can fly do they need to be clipped or are they domestic enough to hang around?

Clipped or not will they hop up on fences and such to just do bird type things?

Pardon my ignorance in this, but I figure it is better to know now so I can design a coop/run area accordingly. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Smithyard Farm]

I have 14 hens,,,, only one "flies" enough to get over the fence... a few of the others find other ways to get on the other side... they just hang around for the most part... I did trim the flight feathers on the one that was flying over though... only because she always went on the far side of the fence where the neighbors dog sometimes gets out. Figured I would try to alleviate an issue before it started. I have had that one (Polly, a white leghorn) for a year and a half. She just started to fly t the top of our fence and then jump don on the other side.... she has always gotten under, but I guess i did a pretty good job patching up the holes. They dont seem to go far, and have always returned.... watch and see. you can always trim the feathrs if you are nervous about it. only trim one side though. puts them off balance a bit.

 

[kjacksonemti]

I have a Polish/RIR/Who Knows What rooster who can fly about half a mile at a shot, laugh at those silly barbed wire fences as he sails over them and drop into the thickest cover he can find. He is an infernal beast that can defy any attempt at capture or containment. Fortunately, the hens in the flock ignore his calls to join him when he decides to go off the reservation.

 

[PeepsAreForMe]

One of my 3 GSL's flys over their 4' fence every day. And we have clipped one wing on each of them! She doesn't go far without her flock mates though. When they are all out, that's another story! Not that they go far, but they get to digging in mulch and find all the goodies and just wander. They always find their home at dusk though. It is amazing!

 

[CherishHolland]

I have 2 leghorns about 7 weeks old out of my flock those 2 are the best flyers my ameraucanas are the next best. Our run has a topper on it to keep the hawks at bay so we don't worry about them getting out.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

It really depends on the breed. Thin, lean birds like leghorns can fly very well. When my neighbors dog got into our yard, my leghorns flew on the roof of my house. I have had them go over the fence a few times but for the most part they stick around and they have always come home. You can always clip a wing to keep them grounded if you want to.

Round, heavier birds fly less well and a 4-5 ft fence would very easily keep them in. Other breeds like silkies, can not fly at all.

 

[jak2002003]

Alright...so maybe a few questions have developed as I am watching this chicks grow, leraning more, and planning for the next stages. So chickens are birds and can fly....but at what point are they able to? I would guess it is not until they are fully feathered at the very least, but even these little guys have some serious hops!
They can fly up to things at a very early age - even when they still have a lot of chick fluff. They only need to have grown a few flight feathers on the wings.

Once they can fly do they need to be clipped or are they domestic enough to hang around?
They are not stupid. They will not fly away. They will enjoy climbing and flying about when they are young, and when they get older they will calm down - but they like to fly up onto things to get a good look around. They won't fly away, but if you want to keep them in their run, or you don't want them to go into a neighbours garden, then you might want to clip their wings.

Clipped or not will they hop up on fences and such to just do bird type things?
Yes they will do that. I don't advise clipping their wings if you let them free range. This is because they will still hop up and climb up onto things, then maybe they will go over you fence and not be able to fly back into you yard. Also they will not be able to fly up into the trees or onto a high thing if they get attacked by predator like a dog.

Pardon my ignorance in this, but I figure it is better to know now so I can design a coop/run area accordingly. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Bobafett]

Thanks...all of this will help in the coop/run building process.