Flying Chickens

[Gopeckgo]

I am raising my second flock of chickens. my first flock I could let free range unsupervised in my fenced yard. They never flew, stayed close together and seemed cautious, and watching for predators (I have seen hawks, eagles, owls by me ) -they never jumped over the 5 feet chain link fence . This new bunch is so active, they fly across the yard run all over the place, a couple times hopping the fence or trying to fly up and perch in the tree line. I have limited time to supervise them and it’s exhausting trying to goal tend to keep them off the fence . Last night I spotted a hawk eyeing them and I chased it off. I have had to add all kinds of roosts and perches inside my run to give the older girls a break from their shenanigans! If I clip their wings will they be able to get up and down from the perches? They are 19 weeks old, easter egger, Orpington, austrolorp, barred rock. Any suggestions? I want to let them free range more but am afraid that I will lose them . Also why are they so stupid and reckless!??!

 

[rosemarythyme]

How high are the perches? For the most part chickens jump up onto roosts rather than fly, so as long as the roosts aren't up too high they should be able to get up to them. Or you can add a ramp.

Young birds tend to be more active since they're brimming with youthful energy which is why they're zipping all over the place. They're also lighter which makes it easier for them to fly around compared to mature hens.

 

[Gopeckgo]

How high are the perches? For the most part chickens jump up onto roosts rather than fly, so as long as the roosts aren't up too high they should be able to get up to them. Or you can add a ramp.

Young birds tend to be more active since they're brimming with youthful energy which is why they're zipping all over the place. They're also lighter which makes it easier for them to fly around compared to mature hens.

The one they use the most is 3 ft. Thank you for the explanation

 

[rosemarythyme]

The one they use the most is 3 ft. Thank you for the explanation

I would think they'd be able to jump up to 3' even with clipping, though you may need to test that. If there's no lower roost to help them up there's always the ramp option, or even a cinder block or stump can give them a boost.

 

[coach723]

I've often in the past had to clip wings on the young ones, the second year they are usually heavy enough and filled out so that it's less of a problem. I also have Fayoumi's which are smaller and lighter, I keep all of their wings clipped, or they are all over the place. They get in tree's, on the coop roof, go over my 7' fence. They are almost all molting now, so when finished I'll be clipping all of those ones again. Some birds do learn to compensate and still figure out how to fly some with a wing clipped, so still keep an eye out for that. I just use concrete blocks as steps up to my roosts. They can usually do jumps up to about 18" pretty well, depending on the size of the bird.

 

[SamLockwood]

Younger chickens like to push the limits. Between 3 months and a year old they'll do some crazy acrobatics. It's like they want to test the limits is their little feathered bodies. If they survive, they'll outgrow it.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

We usually trim wings on our wild youngsters at least once or twice. By the time of their adult molt as stated above they're often too heavy to fly or have forgotten that they could. With the exception of Merida, my goofy Speckled Sussex hen. No fence can hold her, wing trimmed or not. I just ignore her. If she chooses to spend her day out foraging where there is neither food nor water except what nature provides, that's on her. Goofball.

 

[Gopeckgo]

I've often in the past had to clip wings on the young ones, the second year they are usually heavy enough and filled out so that it's less of a problem. I also have Fayoumi's which are smaller and lighter, I keep all of their wings clipped, or they are all over the place. They get in tree's, on the coop roof, go over my 7' fence. They are almost all molting now, so when finished I'll be clipping all of those ones again. Some birds do learn to compensate and still figure out how to fly some with a wing clipped, so still keep an eye out for that. I just use concrete blocks as steps up to my roosts. They can usually do jumps up to about 18" pretty well, depending on the size of the bird.

Thank you so much

 

[Gopeckgo]

I've often in the past had to clip wings on the young ones, the second year they are usually heavy enough and filled out so that it's less of a problem. I also have Fayoumi's which are smaller and lighter, I keep all of their wings clipped, or they are all over the place. They get in tree's, on the coop roof, go over my 7' fence. They are almost all molting now, so when finished I'll be clipping all of those ones again. Some birds do learn to compensate and still figure out how to fly some with a wing clipped, so still keep an eye out for that. I just use concrete blocks as steps up to my roosts. They can usually do jumps up to about 18" pretty well, depending on the size of the bird.

How frequently do you clip and is it a 2 person job?

 

[SnackMeat]

Depends. It can be easier but it's not hard to do by myself. I either have the chicken facing out towards my side, almost facing behind me under my arm, and have their left arm pinned against my torso, while my left arm is under their right wing. I can support their body and hold the wing out to cut with scissors in my right hand.

Or, I can have them facing to my right, with their right wing pinned against my chest. I have their head just above the inner crook of my elbow and take my left hand, sort of pushing in on their left side to support and extending the left wing, cutting with my right.


I have tried just cutting one wing as I read that cutting both can cause some birds to stabilize and still be able to fly, but for whatever reason that did not work. So now I cut both wings. I would say it takes maybe 2 months to grow in partially, enough that my frequent fliers start hopping fences again.

I do have some birds who can fly with clipped wings, but with clipped wings they focus on only doing it to get to their roost instead of hopping the fence to be where they shouldn't be.