Clipped Feathers

[SuperChickMama]

I recently traded a roo for a 4 month old hen. She is the sweetest thing and I couldn't figure out why she wasn't roosting on the pole until I walked up and picked her up. Her wings had been clipped. I don't particularly care for this practice. How long until she gets new feathers and will be able to fly, jump hop or whatever you want to call it? The roosting pole is about 2 feet off the ground and she seemed to enjoy it but she can't get up on her own.
Thanks

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

I recently traded a roo for a 4 month old hen. She is the sweetest thing and I couldn't figure out why she wasn't roosting on the pole until I walked up and picked her up. Her wings had been clipped. I don't particularly care for this practice. How long until she gets new feathers and will be able to fly, jump hop or whatever you want to call it? The roosting pole is about 2 feet off the ground and she seemed to enjoy it but she can't get up on her own.
Thanks

Not until the molt. Unless you pull all the primary feathers out, then they should grow back but I don't know how long it will take. And I am sure since those are major feathers it will hurt a lot to pull them. Is only one side clipped or both?

 

[SuperChickMama]

Thanks for your response, I'm pretty sure just one side is clipped.

 

[mcjessen]

I would think she should be able to jump up on a roost that is 2 ft off the ground. If she is new to the coop, she may not be used to it. Try putting her up on the roost. I clipped my Sussex because she was flying over a 5 ft fence. She can still jump 2.5 to 3 ft off the ground.

 

[ibarbidahl]

PLEASE do not pull the flight feathers out! She will bleed and will NOT trust you again, at least not for a long time.

There is no reason she can't get up on the roost. If she is clipped on one side only I would recommed clipping the other side as well so she is better balanced. Clipping one side only makes them go in a circle. Just check to make sure there are no blood feathers before cutting.

I have to keep my BR clipped or she goes up and over my 6' fence every 10 minutes. My neighbors dog has caught her more than once so not an option. With both wings clipped she easily launches herself onto the small shed that sits at 3.5 - 4ft tall. Her coop does not have a ladder and she gets into and out of it to roost and to lay every day as well.


Clipping flight feathers (as long as they are not blood feathers) does not hurt them and can help to keep them contained and thus happier in the long run.