- Apr 9, 2012
- 78
- 30
- 121
How old (or young) did you start clipping wings?
My chicks are 12 weeks old (tetra tints) and have been outside for about 6 weeks now. They stay in an enclosed run during the day and are only let out into the yard for a few hours in the evening. Our yard has a 6-foot fence, and *so far* they have shown no inclination to try and escape. When they do fly, it's low and horizontal (usually when I come outside with food).
I started thinking about clipping their wings a few weeks ago because I was going to be out of town for a few days. There was a sitter coming, and I figured if they were going to pick a time to test their altitude it would definitely be while I was gone. I ended up not clipping and they were gracious enough not to give the sitter any challenges.
They have now entered an adolescent molting phase and some of their primary feathers are noticeably absent, so I am sort of glad I didn't go the trouble only to have them grow new wing feathers within two weeks. After researching adolescent molting, I found they will likely have one or two molts before maturing. They really don't like to be held (they will eat out of your hand and climb in your lap, but can't stand to be restrained), so I am really dreading having to hold them with one hand while wielding a sharp pair of scissors in the other hand.
I guess, what I am wondering is, is it worth going through the trouble of clipping before they are mature if they don't seem interested in flying? Do chickens tend to show signs that they are interested in flying (gradually increasing heights and distances) or do they just take off one day?
My chicks are 12 weeks old (tetra tints) and have been outside for about 6 weeks now. They stay in an enclosed run during the day and are only let out into the yard for a few hours in the evening. Our yard has a 6-foot fence, and *so far* they have shown no inclination to try and escape. When they do fly, it's low and horizontal (usually when I come outside with food).
I started thinking about clipping their wings a few weeks ago because I was going to be out of town for a few days. There was a sitter coming, and I figured if they were going to pick a time to test their altitude it would definitely be while I was gone. I ended up not clipping and they were gracious enough not to give the sitter any challenges.
They have now entered an adolescent molting phase and some of their primary feathers are noticeably absent, so I am sort of glad I didn't go the trouble only to have them grow new wing feathers within two weeks. After researching adolescent molting, I found they will likely have one or two molts before maturing. They really don't like to be held (they will eat out of your hand and climb in your lap, but can't stand to be restrained), so I am really dreading having to hold them with one hand while wielding a sharp pair of scissors in the other hand.
I guess, what I am wondering is, is it worth going through the trouble of clipping before they are mature if they don't seem interested in flying? Do chickens tend to show signs that they are interested in flying (gradually increasing heights and distances) or do they just take off one day?
