To clip or not to clip?

[centrarchid]

If you go that route, there is a right way and many wrong ways to clip chicken wings. See if you can contain them by other means first.

 

[tmarie623]

If you go that route, there is a right way and many wrong ways to clip chicken wings. See if you can contain them by other means first.

One more reason why I'd just rather not go that route

 

[Alexandra33]

This is exactly the type of input I was looking for. Only compelling reason is that someone told me I should and I don't want to discard that advice without getting more experienced opinions. I prefer to not b/c I'd rather my birds be fully functional. I tried searching for posts discussing the pros or cons, but all that came up was instruction on how to clip. The only reasoning I could come up with is maybe people don't want them roosting in taller trees, jumping inside gardens or leaving the general area??? I just feel like I'm missing some big detail about why you would need to clip wings (or why people do it) and I'm trying to educate myself. As for my garden, I will likely have to enclose somehow. I'm sure, like you said, they can get in with or without clipped wings.

Should those factors become unbearable issues, then would be the time to consider clipping. I wouldn't (just a matter of personal preference) clip my birds wings just because they MAY roost in trees, or trespass on areas which are off-limits.....I'd wait and see how things pan out beforehand. And, thankfully, clipping isn't permanent. Feathers regrow.

Like I stated above, fencing in our garden has proven infinitely more effective than enclosing the flock. We struggled to prevent clipped houdinis from destroying any and all produce.....nothing worked except removing the birds' enclosure and setting up shop around the garden. Since then, no problems. It's more compelling in their little minds to escape said run, than to fly into a run.

~Alex