Free Ranging/Clipping Wings-General Question

[devora]

We free range our birds and are wondering if people who free range also wing-clip. It seems they need all the help they can get to scamper away from predators, so it seems clipping and free ranging are mutually exclusive.

Is that correct?

 

[Rocky4052]

I just started free ranging my white leghorns, and I wouldn't dream of clipping their wings. They are not flying up into trees or anything- and I have a lot of trees! With unclipped wings, they do have the ability to do so though, if their lives are in danger. Dan

 

[bigzio]

No need to clip any wings... The more time the birds have their freedom the smarter they get. They always have one eye in the sky for predators and know when it's time to run for a hiding place and come back out when it's safe. Chickens are survivors, that why they have been around since Biblical time. Keeping an eye on the free range flock is something we always do. Just good management to be around if the hens are out. Good luck.

bigzio