Should I clip wings?

[Plant City Newb]

My four girls (ISA browns) are about 11-12 weeks old now. I've had two of them fly up on things. One of the lid of the nesting box. I don't know who was more surprised, her (from the look on her face) or me. Then yesterday they saw my husband and I come home and got excited knowing it was food time. One of them flew up on the gate. The gate is about 18" shorter than the fence. Again, I think this one was surprised, too. But I know that when they see one do something it's chicken license for the others to do it. I'm afraid of finding a dead bird in the yard because one has flown the coop and my friendly, neighborhood hawk has gotten a meal.

Should I clip their wings or is this an inevitable part of chicken wrangling? I was hoping they'd be older and bigger before I had to deal with this issue. BTW-the run is fenced (4' high) and covered.

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

Hello do u let them free range or do u have them penned up cause if they are escaping there run I would clip them but that is one thing I don't like to do as I feel they need there wings to fly to get away from something if being chased but u do what u have to do to keep them in your yard and once they get older they should calm down a bit and not be so flighty so u shouldn't have to worry about that then good luck

 

[Doc McCluckins]

We clip our birds wings because flying out of the coop is a death sentence at our house. Our run is 6ft tall with an open top so it would be a challenge for them to escape, ours being heavy birds, but we don't take any chances. I have had the neighbors dog chew into my run and kill chickens before so the only time I let them out is if I can stand out there and guard them.

 

[Plant City Newb]

Since they're young and new to us, we decided to keep them in the run for a while. When they're older we plan to give them supervised free range time in the afternoon/evening when we're home. Plus our property isn't completely fenced and I don't want them deciding to go visit the cows across the street.

They're not leaving the run. My girl that jumped on the fence last night made no move to go out. Although she took a shove to get her off the fence. I just worry because I'm not home with my girls to see what the little darlings are doing.

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

Ok well since they are not that old yet and more flighty I would recommend clipping there wings cause u don't want to come home from work and find ur chickens laying on the road dead

 

[Doc McCluckins]

Also clipping them now won't mean they won't be able to fly later on, they will grow back. You can even just clip some of the longer flight feathers about an inch from the wing on one side and that should be enough to contain them.

 

[Plant City Newb]

I've clipped the wings of smaller birds. I'm going to assume it's the same with chickens. Restrain, pull out wing, clip flight feathers, do other side and release a none too happy bird.

Is my assumption correct?

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

Well if u don't want them to fly just cut one of there wings as then when the try to fly they would just go in circles or just not be able to even get off the ground

 

[Doc McCluckins]

I've clipped the wings of smaller birds. I'm going to assume it's the same with chickens. Restrain, pull out wing, clip flight feathers, do other side and release a none too happy bird.

Is my assumption correct?

That is the method I use and has always worked well for me