Clipping feathers

[KidsandGuineas]

the coop door is a "man door" is this raptor proof?

 

[bobbi-j]

If you're worried that a chicken can fly out, then a raptor could fly in. A covered run is helpful in preventing that.

(pictures of your setup would be helpful)

 

[KidsandGuineas]

i cant cover it because i have to walk through the run to get to the coop and the run is no more than 5ft high!

 

[KidsandGuineas]

i tried to put up pics but it dos'nt show on the post!

 

[pfields]

I won't ever clip mine again. When the rooster tops the hen she has no feathers to protect her sides. I just don't like the way they look with their feathers clipped. Just my opinion, others can do what they want.

 

[KidsandGuineas]

my basic layout is a rectangular run attached to a square coop the only way out of the coop is a "man door" that opens into the run. the only way out of the run is a gate. if a "man door" is not raptor proof how can i make it safe?

 

[bobbi-j]

Do you close the "man door" at night? If not, anything could come over the top of your run and get into the coop. If the door is closed at night, owls (the only night time raptors that I'm aware of) would not be able to get in, and your birds will be safer. But during the day - when the chickens are out in the run, a hawk could come in from the top and get a chicken. They may not be aware of it in time to get into the coop.

 

[KidsandGuineas]

Do you close the "man door" at night? If not, anything could come over the top of your run and get into the coop. If the door is closed at night, owls (the only night time raptors that I'm aware of) would not be able to get in, and your birds will be safer. But during the day - when the chickens are out in the run, a hawk could come in from the top and get a chicken. They may not be aware of it in time to get into the coop.

i always close the door at night. As for during the day, how would having their flight feathers help them escape a raptor? Also there is a big tree that branches over much of the coop, wouldn't this help with raptors because they are less likely to see my chickens?

 

[ECMurray]

True, I think the tree would help. Now, I thought about your question concerning flight feathers helping to escape raptors. If you think about how far and high chickens can fly, they could probably flutter to safety. It would probably on the limb of a tree, or under a shelter

(this is why it's a good idea to build small shelters in your run.) Another reason flight feathers help chickens escape, is because they can flap away from the path of a raptor. Chickens can fly faster than they can run, which makes flight feathers handy for that particular use. So if they fly out of the way, and the raptor misses them, they will have time to rush into the chicken coop while the raptor is preparing to strike again.

 

[cpait]

So complicated.

I live in the city where neighbors dogs, cats, cars and such would get my girls if they made it over the fence and in the front yard. I don't WANT to clip but in my case it seems it's for their own protection. The run is big and fully covered but I work from home and let them out in the backyard during the day. Am I being a big meanie for wanting to clip their wings?