How old can a chick be before you clip their wings?

[aggiemae]

I clipped our 2013 chicks wings at 12 weeks because they were flying over the (6 foot) fence and visiting our neighbors who have an unpredictable dog. I clipped one wing on each chicken, there are lots of videos on U TUBE that can show you which feathers and how much to clip. One of my kids help the chick and fanned the wing for me while I clipped. I used shears at first but found that it was actually easier with a good pair of scissors. I was squeamish the first time and had to clip again the next day. They are pullets now (Just about ready to lay!) so they are still pretty light and can still fly high. Clipping just one wing prevents controlled flight so they are staring on our property.

 

[aggiemae]

I have never clipped any of my chicken's wings.. However I was given a Golden Comet that has her wings clipped and she cannot roost as she cannot get up to even the lowest roost.. She sleeps on the floor every night.. Like the post above, they will not be able to get away from a predator if need be.. I agree to the comment, don't do it! Can you make your run taller? Put poultry netting over it?

Are you sure your hen could fly before she was clipped? Or that she was clipped correctly? I ask because I clip mine (only after they go some where that puts them in danger) and have never had a case where a hen couldn't fly at all. In fact the pullet I just (re)clipped yesterday is sitting on top of my hot tub watching me type this.

In any case, the feathers grow back with the next molt.Chickens, at least all the chickens I know. are pretty set in their forging patterns. So. unlike chicks and pullets. they will not jump a fence they can't see through and (mostly) will only need clipping in their first year.

For the average "backyard" chicken the most dangerous predators, people, dogs and motor vehicles, pesticides and chemicals are just OUTSIDE the safety of their back yard and clipping their wings actually improves their chances of avoiding a predator "attack".

 

[chippysmom327]

Okay. I live out in the country. There aren't any daytime predators except for hawks.

They are gonna be free range. And they're golden sebrights, so they'll be very flighty. They already are. I think I should clip their wings.

What would you do if you were in my situation?

 

[BuffOrpington88]

Putting an unused window screen over the brooder can effectively prevent them from flying out.

 

[BuffOrpington88]

Edited to say: Sorry! Posted twice by accident.

 

[lindaroot]

My Orpington layers do not fly above the roof of their coop. My EE pullets do fly. My Penedesenca juveniles can escape anything,but my Penny layer does not. Do chickens outgrow their ability to fly as they gain body weight? Otherwise I am going to have to buy an aviary.

 

[Big on Red]

I would never clip just one side on the chicken wings I have seen that done and watched chickens fly in the air come down sideways and hurt themselves due to being off-balance. So my suggestion if you're going to have to clip their wings do both sides.

 

[trufadog]

" They usually won't fly over a flimsy fence like poultry netting because they can't land on top of it like the top of a 4 Ft. chainlink fence."

We have put sticks every three inches and then two lines of sewing thread on the three foot fence in the free range area. They keep jumping on it and then over it! Luckily, they are 7 weeks old, so we can clip feathers next week!
One of our chicks flies into a tall branch in our plum tree from the ground! I watched her do it!

 

[trufadog]

"Do chickens outgrow their ability to fly as they gain body weight? Otherwise I am going to have to buy an aviary."
Our Americauna who is about ten months old can fly onto our three foot fence with sewing thread to keep her from going over. She still does. Luckily, she can fly back over too.

 

[Shelyeah]

I’ve never clipped a chick’s wing feathers while they were growing. It’s possible the shaft could have blood in it so you could get some bleeding. I don’t know if that would happen or not. But as long as the shaft does not have blood in it, it will be OK. They molt so often you have to keep doing it.

This is so helpful thank you for the advice