Clipping wings ???

[TXchickmum]

Is there anything nearby that she might be jumping onto before leaping onto/over the fence? We had to reconfigure some lawn furniture near a tree to keep the OEGB from leaping onto the table and up into the tree (even though one wing had been clipped). Also, is there any part of the fence that she is able to latch onto with her feet/nails and then leap from? I have a tiny pullet that has figured out how to leap onto chicken wire in such a way that she grabs onto it and then leaps over. -just a thought....

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Hi Lisa, When you say "older" , about what age/poundage do they stop trying to go over the fence? No only did the bird I wrote about above go over, but the next day one of her sisters did too. She decided to nest right in front of a neighbo'rs front door in a bush and when their dog came out of the house that was the end of her. So sad. So the remaining three went back to their former owner and hopefully will find a home with a much taller fence than what I have (mine is 4 feet). These were big birds at 7 months old and for whatever reason wanted to be in a front yard. I have a large hilly lot with a lot of cover and completely fenced in but that didn't deter them. I wish now that I'd seen them hop onto the fence so I'd know if they were using their wings (and thus would stay in the yard if I clipped them) or if they were strong enough to just hop up so clipping wouldn't make any difference. They are RR and 1 Plymouth. I'd love to have them back if clipping would work but I'm really scared that they could make it just by jumping. Does anyone know if clipping big determined birds like that would keep them in a 4 foot fence?

i personally would either put a fencing over the whole lot like a dome covering the top or build a higher fence

 

[CelesteG]

I am not comfortable clipping the wings myself but it is going to have to be done as my Amercaunas and Buff Orps are all escaping their 8 ft dog run enclosure I realize the solution to that is to net the top, which I will do but these ladies all free range during the day in my back yard and unfortunately, that fence is only four feet. The go over far more easily than I do so it is driving me nuts when they all take their field trips.

Where can you suggest I take them for clipping? Feed store? Vet?

Thanks!

 

[galanie]

It is super easy to do. Just follow this diagram:

Another way to keep them in the fence is to put up a line around 4" from the fence top. If you watch, they don't really fly over the fence but rather to the top, perch a minute, then fly down on the other side. So you want a line too small for them to perch on. I have stakes wired to my fence with old weedeater line on it and it works like a charm. So long as they can't get under it and it's high and tight enough that their weight doesn't smash it down onto the fence top.

 

[chicks-n-bees]

We are now down to two girls (about 5 months old) and they LOVE the neighborhood. However I don't like chasing them through it or worrying about the friendly relations that we're pushing the boundaries of. We have an electronet fence that is 4' high with the coop in the middle. I have clipped one wing on each and yet somehow they keep escaping. After our last frolic through the neighbor's yard I'm about ready to be done with chickens. Any ideas of how to keep them in?