I wasn't sure that wing clipping would be necessary until I found my 22 week old hens standing on top of our 6 foot fence this morning. The dogs next door were going crazy. My problem is that there is a 2-2.5 foot tall retaining wall across the back of our property and the fence is only 3.5-4 foot above that point. If I clip their wings, will that keep them from jumping 3.5-4 feet to get on top or over the fence? Would putting pigeon spikes work?
Clipping the wing seemed to help but one can still find her way to a tree 7 feet up. She is a lighterweight breed which makes a difference. I think you may have trouble with that shorter fence.
I clipped wings today and as I was finishing the last one, the first one was back up on the 4 foot fence..................
I hear you! My girls went on top of our 6ft. fence, then up to the roof! Hubby clipped their wings, so hopefully, no more roof for my girls!!!
Put a top on the pen...if it is your back yard find a way to put it up around the edge of the fence at least....so they can't roost on it.
Thanks for all the replies. I think I am going to have to put up a fenced in area within the backyard for them. After I clipped their wings yesterday, I found one on top of our 4 foot high compost pile which is next to the fence. That got me thinking about all the trees and raised beds we have along the fences. If a chicken ends up over the fence, we would probably have to get rid of them because we aren't supposed to have them here. Now the chicken just sit at the door to their pen waiting for me to let them out like I've been doing everyday.
