Feeling guilty about clipping wings

[AltonaAcres]

I just clipped our two turkeys' (a BBW tom and Royal Palm hen) wings as well as the wings of our stray chicken, Mira (White Leghorn) and a Hedemora named Noelle. They are all young, light birds who have been flying up on to our run area every evening. The Royal Palm, Beatrice has even escaped multiple times today We are heading out of town and I don't want the sitters to deal with retrieving the birds from the run every night, so I decided to clip their wings. I just feel bad for some reason Like I'm taking away their freedom and joy.........................I'm also worried they may not be able to outrun/fly a predator. Did I make the right choice? IDK why I feel like I just did something bad or harmful to them What will happen when they try to fly up and discover they can't fly anymore??????

 

[Birdie mom]

I think they will still be able to escape from predators if the need be, as for them figuring out that they now can't fly, I would guess that they would jump up, flap around above ground for a bit then fall down.

 

[AltonaAcres]

Ok.......................I'm sure they'll be fine I'm just a worry-wort

 

[Birdie mom]

it may come as a shock at first to them but they will get used to it .

 

[LateBirdFarms]

They'll just land again. I'm sure clipping was the best option here if you ever want to go away again and have these people chicken sit for you Frustrated chicken sitters who have to chase chickens and climb, in my experience... don't offer to do it again! They'll molt out and you can worry about it alllllll over again later, but in the mean time just keep in mind you didn't do it to them to be cruel.

 

[Vickischics]

I did the same for the same reason.
I trimmed the flight feathers on one side. They went up and spiralled safely down. Lol
No more escaping until they learned to stay.

 

[AltonaAcres]

Well........The Royal Palm was up where she usually is in the evenings What should we do? Clip the secondaries or cut the primaries all the way down?

 

[Vickischics]

I only trimmed the flight feathers(all the inside feathers) and left 2 long feathers on the end. My pullet was strong. Therefore, I had to trim hard.
Look it up to do it correctly. You will find out quickly if more need to be cut.
That causes them to spiral down because wind escapes under the wing.
If you cut both sides, she will learn to flap harder to get where she wants to go. It will be difficult, but she will try only making her stronger.