Help! Can I clip wings?

[chicken opey]

We have 8 week old Golden Comets that keep flying out the upper part of electric fence.
Is it too early to clip her wings? How do I do that? Is just 1 wing enough?
I was hoping they would get bigger faster but they’ve figured out the upper part has bigger holes!

She does look happy w herself

 

[Debbie292d]

Is there a way you could lengthen the fence posts and run like clothesline wire or some wire across the top to make it higher for a permanent fix?

You can trim their wings but that has to keep being done every few months. Some will say you have to do both and there's a way to do that, but we have two macaw parrots that we learned two decades ago only trim one, a different way.

I found an article that explains and shows it.

 

[chicken opey]

Is there a way you could lengthen the fence posts and run like clothesline wire or some wire across the top to make it higher for a permanent fix?

You can trim their wings but that has to keep being done every few months. Some will say you have to do both and there's a way to do that, but we have two macaw parrots that we learned two decades ago only trim one, a different way.

I found an article that explains and shows it.

Ty

 

[aart]

At 8 weeks clipping wings could be risky due to juvenile molts.
You don't want to cut thru a feather that still has blood supply.
If you happen to do so and a feather shaft starts bleeding, fully pluck the feather out.

 

[chicken opey]

At 8 weeks clipping wings could be risky due to juvenile molts.
You don't want to cut thru a feather that still has blood supply.
If you happen to do so and a feather shaft starts bleeding, fully pluck the feather out.

Oh.
Maybe I’ll look at netting and feed them more

 

[Debbie292d]

Oh.
Maybe I’ll look at netting and feed them more

Netting would be a good idea as well.

"Feed them more" worries me though as they already should have constant access to their starter/grower crumbles at this age. They are still growing as it is. Maybe you were just joking, but I wouldn't fatten them up with something else, just so they can't fly.

 

[chicken opey]

Netting would be a good idea as well.

"Feed them more" worries me though as they already should have constant access to their starter/grower crumbles at this age. They are still growing as it is. Maybe you were just joking, but I wouldn't fatten them up with something else, just so they can't fly.

Trying to give extra treats to hurry it up but that’s not happening as fast I would like.
They have starter food and I’ve been adding the layer to it, so can transition easier

 

[aart]

Trying to give extra treats to hurry it up but that’s not happening as fast I would like.
They have starter food and I’ve been adding the layer to it, so can transition easier

Cut out the treats and also the layer feed, they are way to young to need the extra calcium.
I've never fed my flock anything but 20% all-flock, oyster shells provided once they start laying.

 

[Chikenshiken]

We have 8 week old Golden Comets that keep flying out the upper part of electric fence.
Is it too early to clip her wings? How do I do that? Is just 1 wing enough?
I was hoping they would get bigger faster but they’ve figured out the upper part has bigger holes!

She does look happy w herself

You could clip her wings but you would have to ensure during molts that when they grow back it’s clipped immediately. I would not trim one just because I had a duck with one clipped wing who rode the wind to get over the fence with her one wing and was killed by two dogs.

But if your chicken can fly over the fence that means others can too. Just for all your chickens I don’t think the solution would be clipping the wings of just that one chicken but to either clip everyone’s wings or to just make your life easier, extend the fence or add a net. I would obviously go with the latter just to save some time it’s the best long term solution

 

[Debbie292d]

Trying to give extra treats to hurry it up but that’s not happening as fast I would like.
They have starter food and I’ve been adding the layer to it, so can transition easier

Please trust us telling you not to do that as they are suffering nutritionally. You could wind up seeing health/development issues in them later in life.

Just providing them what is best for them now will produce healthier chickens. They need only their starter/grower until they are around 4 months or laying eggs.