flying chickens

[squat]

We have clipped our chickens wings so they won't fly over the fence of our pastures, but some of them still seem to manage to get up to the railing of the fence. What is the best way to clip the wings so that they can't fly?

 

[Katy]

Did you do one side or both? You only want to do one side so it helps throw them off balance.....and even then it doesn't always work.

 

[ChickenToes]

Did you cut the flight feathers down far enough? They need to be cut about 2/3 of the way down.

 

[ella]

Wait a few months till they get chubbier. Only thing that works for me!

 

[squat]

We first tried clipping one side and that seemed to work for a while, but the last time we clipped both sides. I'm afraid of clipping the feathers too close!

 

[picklespickles]

my fat chickens don't fly, just the skinny ones. one of the fliers goes all around the yard and in the trees. the other flier has started running up and down the fence and hangs out in the front yard or the field next door. she manages to get away from all cats or dogs. i admit to thinking it's cool she's out and about. lol. when she hears me tossing food out the window, she comes in from wherever and looks around for food.

i don't know why i don't clip their wings. guess i sort of like it that they can fly. then again, if ALL of them were doing it, i'd probably feel a lot different.

 

[Coachp]

Squat- I am going to jump in your thread and ask a few questions- so we don't have 2 threads on flying hours apart--- hope its ok.

How much can you limit the flight by cutting the feathers? What I am asking can you keep the from flying over a 3', 4' or 5' fence? I have baby chicks now but am planning on where they can go when I let them out and they have grown. I have a 3' fence around my garden- but was going to raise it to 4 or 5'. I won't let them in my garden all the time- just during the winter.

I know you folks are the best- please help a newbie!!!

Thanks!!!!

 

[scooter147]

A three foot fence won't stop most chickens even with clipped wings, they can basically almost jump that high and even with clipped wings they can get some momentum by flapping clipped wings to up and over a three foot fence.

Coachp.
Since the garden is fenced and if you have a nice sized yard the three foot fence may just keep them out of the garden. I have several big flower beds that I have just a two foot fence around and my chickens don't jump over it. I only let them free range about and hour and a hald in the evening so they don't have a lot of time to be exploring, however, even after the first frost when they get to free range all day rarely to I find one in the flower beds.

Squat,

do you see the chickens get to the top of the fence? I have had chickens in the past that even with clipped wings could manage to get to the top of a six foot fence to get out of their run. They basically just walked/flapped their way up the side of the fence.

 

[Coachp]

Thanks scooter. Yeah I have dogs I don't trust and stray dogs every now and then. I will work on getting them fat and watch them when I am out. thanks again!

 

[modenacart]

My chickens have flown over six feet of fencing with their wings clipped when they have been frightened.