Blodwyn and Ruby are always escaping the run but I too dont want to clip their feathers, They wait until I get back to the house then up and over they go, then of course the others creat because they are stuck behind so I have to go back and let them all out.I would never clip a birds feathers. I've seen nothing that would lead me to believe it stops them trying to fly and often they end up either frustrated or injured from trying to do what they know they should be able to.