Clipping wings

[Three Little Bunnies]

I have a four-foot-tall fence around my chicken yard. My three White Leghorns are constantly flying over it, and even my rather large and heavy Barred Rocks can get over it. Should I clip their wings? How should I do it if I do?

 

[neo71665]

Big scissors. Cut the flight feathers on one wing.

 

[CraftyHen]

When you hold the wing open, there are two layers of feathers. Only cut the bottom layer and only cut 1 wing. It will still allow your birds to get up on their roost, but should keep them a little off balance so they don't fly over the fence. I suggest looking it up on YouTube to see a couple videos of how to do it. If done correctly it doesn't hurt the chicken. Also, the feathers will eventually grow back so you'll have to keep them trimmed.

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

Okay, thank you! Should I clip all of my chickens or just the fliers? How long between clippings? Could they still fly over a 30 inch fence with clipped wings? And would they still be able to fly away if a predator got in?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Okay, thank you! Should I clip all of my chickens or just the fliers? How long between clippings? Could they still fly over a 30 inch fence with clipped wings? And would they still be able to fly away if a predator got in?

I'd only clip the problem birds. But it will make it harder for them to escape a predator, so that's the trade off. If the chickens are confined to a run, best to make the run as predator proof as possible, so they don't need to be escaping.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Lol.
You will not keep a leghorn in a 4' fence period.
I know the theory of clipping only one wing because it throws them off balance but I can guarantee that does not limit a leghorn.
Clipping both wings does more to ground them.
I have to clip both wings and clip all the wing feathers to keep them in 6' fences.

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

Thanks for your replies! Until I get a top on their run, I am keeping the "problem birds" in a small area with a roof (and food, water, and nest box).