how to clip a birds wings?

[dragontamer56]

I am wanting to put chickens and turkeys in pens that don't have tops and i don't want them getting out and was wondering if clipping the wings would be better than covering the top of the huge pens.

 

[MommaOrp]

Depends how high i suppose, I tend to think towards predators too

 

[Erica]

Hi Dragontamer56,

if you do decide to clip the wings (I too would worry about predators) then make sure you only clip one wing. This will unbalance the bird so it can't fly.

It's usual to clip only the primaries, i.e. the big flight feathers. Clip them to just below where they meet the overlapping feathers above. That way you can't see the clipped wing when the wing is folded, and she'll have good feather cover for chilly nights.

Erica