Cliping Chicks Wings

[OSUman]

I was wondering if iit is ok to clip the chickens wings because i wasnt going to put a top on my run and i cant afford it either but i dont want my chickens to get out

 

[emilyweck]

You mean the wings or the feathers on the wings?

 

[CityClucks]

Putting a top on your run is also for keeping predators OUT. How old are your chickens? Are they flying up to the top of the run yet? If they have their adult feathers I think it's okay to clip them - try clipping just one wing as see how it goes.

 

[OSUman]

no they are just a couple of days old i was wondering for when they start to fly.

 

[CityClucks]

Yeah, wait until they have all their adult feathers in. But please consider covering your run with some protection from hawks or climbing predators like possums and raccoons.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Here's some info on wing clipping from the Learning Center.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-wingclipping.html

 

[crackertrail]

My friend uses the netting to keep out deer and it is budget wise pretty affordable. They have it at Lowe's. She had problems with owls and hawks.

 

[Anny]

Do you mean trimming the primary flight feather ?

You have to do this ever so often as they grow back but it's easy to do. This
website here explain it pretty good with pictures, and I'm sure you could find better websites out there as well.

 

[OSUman]

Thanks for the info

 

[m2wandc]

I have considered wing clipping as an option once mine are larger for the same reasons...however, I'm also torn because if they NEED to 'escape' they need to be able to get up into a tree or something??? I can't net our area...but this weekend I'm going to ATTEMPT to talk DH into building a run as well as a coop, just so when we have playdates with kids, etc...the chickens can have an area to 'be and have room' but be safe and away from the kids...and if we want them to free range in the fenced yard we can let them out...

My original plan was to free range (in the fenced yard, so my dogs couldn't kill them) by day and coop by night...but now I'm thinking they need a large run as well for those days that free ranging isn't a great option...ie: when we are on vacation and someone else is caring for them, or when we have a playgroup and a ton of kids are running wild all over our property)

Wing clipping is still of 'interest' but as a last resort for me...I'm going to mark this link and wait to see what happens as they get older...who knows maybe if I got fat enough breeds (barred rock & buff orpington) they'll stay low...I hear they fly more during the adolesent years and once full grown stay on the grown more...I'm hoping for that to be the case...

time will tell...