Official BYC Poll: Do You Clip Your Chickens' Wings?

[BDutch]

No reason for it. Mine either free range or stay in a fully enclosed run. And I’d rather that they be able to get away from predators when free ranging.

I don’t clip their wings for the same reasons.

I’m certain it helps my chickens to get away in time from most predators. I know they survived dog attacks because they can fly a little. Only lost one small bantam to a buzzard in 6 years.

Don't clip wings. Have not had a problem with them flying where they don't belong so see no need to. Plus if something did get in the yard, Id want them to be able to get away as easily as possible. I have them food trained anyways so a couple tongue clicks and a handfull of, well it don't matter, if they think I got some goodies, they come running from the 4 corners of the earth

Aaron

Same here! They always come for treats. Except if they have fled from some-kind of evil.

 

[Abriana]

I had only clipped one or two chickens previously, but this flock is a bit more spunky. I had own girl who flew right out just because she was flying around out of happiness (not trying to escape), and another hen almost flew out as well. I’d had one hen named Blossom who kept getting out get killed by a mystery predator. I got super nervous and clipped one whole wing on every hen except my oldest (almost 5, the others are about 6 months old and the youngest are around 4 months) and the rooster (he’s not much of a flyer) about a month or so ago. Have had no issues since then! I’ll probably do it as a precaution on all my young birds now, better safe than sorry, and if anything does happen it’s better to know you did all that you could.
EDIT: they are kept in an electric fence, in my almost 5 years of chicken keeping I’ve only ever had predator attacks from hawks, so I’m not too concerned that they’d need to actually escape anything.

 

[Ascholten]

Well, if half the flock, you trim the left wing, the other half, the right wing, if they do take off, they should bump heads in the middle and fall right back into the yard right?

Aaron

 

[BDutch]

P.S before you clip their wings, ask you’re neighbours : “Do you mind if my chickens trespass?”

Mine don’t ,seriously. Two out of 4 love it. They like to see my small bantams scratching and enjoy the scenery. The other two neighbours don’t mind.

 

[0die]

I quit clipping. I had a dog get breach the fence twice. Both times it killed several birds. Now I never clip so they can fly and escape if needed. They are not going to stray anyway as they have a home and food.

I once used to clip "yearly"-ish once they grew out their first flying feathers.

Then I changed to "only once just the first time" their flying feathers grew out to discourage them developing flying behavior. Once they have some problems flying they kinda just quit trying so keeping them trimmed was really unnecessary after a while.

Then I had this feral dog breach the backyard and run twice. The only bird that lived had been able to fly the fence and take refuge a couple houses away.

I'd much rather deal with the occasional escapee than a bunch of dead birds. They never stray when they end up on the wrong side of the fence. They are social and want to stay with the group. I find them circling perimeter trying to get back inside.

 

[TooCheep]

Haven't had the need to, but will if they ever fly over my 6' fence. The most I've ever had are two that rarely were able to fly up to the top of their coop.

 

[PerlyBee]

I did last year after my dad called me saying that one of my chickens was strolling down the street. He said I knew it had to be yours because she stayed still as I approached her to pick her up. He has chickens too but they are not used to being handled.
Idk how she made it that far there are so many dogs in my neighborhood. I reinforced the run and haven’t clipped their wings again. But will if i have to.!

 

[PioneerChicks]

If the chickens won't be going to fair, and they keep flying the fence, then it is time to clip one wing. Never clip two, or the chickens will still be able to fly until their next molt when you can cut again. Learned by experience

 

[Ascholten]

A dog that eats chickens is a dead one. Just sayin'

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I've only done 1 of my ladies because of her continuous need to be everywhere she isn't supposed to be, now all is good, lol