How high can they fly??

[tweetysvoice]

Thanks for the responses everyone! If they are able to hop that high with clipped wings, I'm thinking now about building some sort of wire cage that I can at least put atop the plants to try and protect them. At least they will only be in the greenhouse for a few weeks a year.

To answer some questions, The birds I am looking to get are plymouth rock, delware, and/or rhode island reds. I live in Kansas, so the weather does fluctuate if you sneeze - but the greenhouse is located under a huge shade tree (which is why I can't actually use it as a greenhouse). I am already in the process of replacing a lot of the polycarb panels with wood to increase the insulation (as well as line the north wall with hay bales) and as a place to put in ventilation holes. We'll be doing one half of it in the wood so there is always a section that doesn't get direct sun. The wood panels will also provide us a place for a door so the chicks can go outside into the run. (Anyone know if they are smart enough to use a flapped cat door?)

The reason that we are planning on clipping their wings is for their own safety. Two sides of the run have a 6 foot wood fence already built and although I will be topping it with mesh to detour hawks, just on the other side of the fence is a 4 lane busy road. I really don't want someone escaping into the road (why did the chicken cross the road?) if there is ever an instance where the top comes off of the fencing. I am trying my hardest to work through all of these things long before I actually have the chickens, but I know things will always come up.

 

[centrarchid]

If wings are clipped tight enough, then vertical flight will approximate jumping ability. Not tight enough and flapping can still propel birds in addition to jump or enable clambering. Most breeds can not jump more than three times their head height when wings do not provide lift. Heavier breeds less capable, especially as adults.