Flighty help

[momtotnt]

I have a 6 mo old Faverolle and Polish, and just introduced a 4 mo old RIR in an adjacent run. Both 8x12 runs have 4.5ft high, framed, open topped fencing. The RIR is a feisty little girl. She has decided that she wants to explore, and frequently jumps up & out. I have clipped her wings and that seems to work but only for about 2-3 days. Then, she does it again! Well, the Faverolle has decided that this looks like fun & is now jumping out too! Clipped her wings, but to no avail! (Polish is content to be on the ground - not clipped).

I'm afraid to clip any more for fear of taking too much off. I'm not sure how to tell how much is too much? So far, I've cut the longest feathers to the length of the next longest layer. Not sure how much shorter I can go? Or, if there's another alternative?

 

[CMV]

Generally you only clip one wing to throw them off balance so they can't fly. If you clip both wings then they can adapt to the shorter feathers and still fly. The only other recommendation would be to cover the runs with some cheap, plastic deer netting.

Good luck.

 

[momtotnt]

I thought the one wing thing too and did that initially, but it didn't inhibited her! I do have some other cheap chicken wire I can lay across the top but that would be another "project".