Should I clip a White Leghorn rooster

[aggie9296]

I had a persistent escapee RSL and I wasn't about to cover a 1/4 acre area. 1 wing did not work. So I clipped both wings. She stopped getting out. Her feathers have grown back but she hasn't made an escape again. Yet.

I don't think the other chickens would notice any clipped wings enough to affect the pecking order.

But if he can get over a 7 ft fence with only one wing, he needs a cover over the top, I'm betting.

 

[bobbieschicks]

I think I will have the kids help me drape the netting tomorrow. It won't be perfect but it will keep the chickens in while I'm away at my conference. I'll use the coop as the center pole and stretch it out as far as the netting will cover. My goal is temporary containment.

Thanks so much for the help everyone!

 

[StarLover21]

Yeah, white leghorns are fliers. For mine, we live in the city, and I had to clip mine's wings down as far as possible without hurting her. I even cut off some of the feather-bits on the long blood feathers, leaving the shaft unharmed. It looks ugly if her wings are spread, but normal when they're folded. A cover will hopefully do the trick!

 

[bobbieschicks]

I managed to get the rest of his wing feathers trimmed off. He's remarkably calm with a towel draped over his head. I didn't even have to hold him still. But I also got a netting up over half the run with the help? of my two children. At least the chickens can free range a little in there without Foghorn escaping so easily. I get back home Sunday and I'll have the kid help me get the other half covered as well.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Had to come back early to help with a sick child poor guy. Apparently no chickens escaped while I was gone! However I don't think just clipping his wings would have kept Foghorn from escaping - so I'm glad I took the time to drape a netting over the top of his coop/run. He wasn't happy about it - but I was glad to have him safely inside.