clipping wing feathers to stop flying?

[scoopy82]

Hi all - i have a hen that insists on flying over the wall of he house every day and im worried she might end up fox food. Someone told me that if i clip her wing feathers on one side it will stop her flying, but i am not sure how to go about this. Can anyone give me some directions - i don't want to hurt her. Thanks

 

[secuono]

It's crazy easy to do and I do it to my young chicks in groups in just a few minutes.
Catch a bird, spread the wing, and the last very long feathers you trim even with the other feathers, you can cut lower too, but too low and you'll hit blood.

Pics I found on the net. 2nd pic is what wing should look like after you cut. Some people cut all the feather ends, 3rd pic, would be where the red line is.

 

[Whiskey Bay]

Quote:
I always clip both wings.I've had people tell me only one is neccessary ,but have birds still fly high enough. IT's very easy,when you extend the wing out,you will see where the primary (long bottom) feathers meet the secondaries.I always cut them just below the secondaries from front to back.Not only does this take care of the flying,but also makes it look a lil better than having a couple long feathers hanging down.

 

[Invertalon]

I will need to do this for sure with my White Leghorns.. They are flighty enough as is, and only a few weeks old!

Are they easy to do? Seems like they might give a fight but maybe not too bad.

What is the proper age to start clipping?

 

[Whiskey Bay]

Quote:
Depending on the type of bird,alot of times that is not enough off to keep them grounded. Flighty and game type birds can still catch pretty good air. I usually cut all the way to the secondary feathers there. As long as it's not molting season,you shouldn't have to worry about blood feathers.However they are easy to tell which ones are blood feathers if you have them turned over.They a really dark shafted in contrast to white. If you do cut one though it's not bad,just stings and likes to bleed. Use a clotter for this.

 

[scoopy82]

Thanks! Thats exactly the type of help I was looking for and fantastic pics! She is a brown leg horn and has always been a good flyer, but lately she has been getting out first thing in the morning and then carrying on like a twit, making more noise than the baby rooster! This will hopefully end her escaping days, I would put a roof over their dwelling but it is a horse stable and one day will be used for horses again so couldn't put up anything too permanent!

 

[JerseyFresh]

At what age is best to do this? I have standard sized birds that are 7 weeks old.
Thanks.

 

[schellie69]

I did this to mine last year around the time they figured out that they could fly up on the pen and go over the fence. It is easy to do they will grow back after their molt so you might have to do it again if she starts flying again. Good luck.

 

[anitalogan]

If I clip their wings, will they still be able to get up to their roost?

 

[annep]

They should be able to hop up there..Mine always did..How high is it? Mine was about 2ft off the ground, and they did it no problem..