Galliformes are not aerodynamically suited to true flight, as say, an eagle or vulture is. They are considered terrestrial birds. But, because they naturally roost in trees and high shrubs, they can jump and flap quite high. Of course, they can also launch and glide a fairly long way, too, when leaving their roosting sites. This is one of their survival tools, as well to run launch and glide. Every wing shooter after quail and chukkar takes advantage of this habit.
The Mediterranean breeds (and I assume the banties) are better suited to "flying," since they are lighter and possess higher metabolisms. These little sparkplugs will often run, flap and glide some way.
Dual purpose birds like Rocks and Orpingtons are heavier and have had some of the flying bred out of them in favor of greater weight and size. But even they can flap and leap pretty high, and it's in their nature to "get up high."
This is why you'll see them perched up on things you woudn't otherwise imagine... like a fence post. Some people place perching structures in their runs just to keep them on the structures, and not on the fence, the car or in the trees.
Give them a calm environment, free of disturbance and perceived threat and they are less likely to attempt airborne maneuvers. This means keep them pesky little kiddies away, dont mow the grass anywhere near the chicken yard and, of course, dogs, cats, possums, hawks, foxes, owls, coyotes, ... predators in general, should be eliminated.
Like any of that is gonna happen!
If you want to keep them on the ground, the solution is to clip their wings.
The Mediterranean breeds (and I assume the banties) are better suited to "flying," since they are lighter and possess higher metabolisms. These little sparkplugs will often run, flap and glide some way.
Dual purpose birds like Rocks and Orpingtons are heavier and have had some of the flying bred out of them in favor of greater weight and size. But even they can flap and leap pretty high, and it's in their nature to "get up high."
This is why you'll see them perched up on things you woudn't otherwise imagine... like a fence post. Some people place perching structures in their runs just to keep them on the structures, and not on the fence, the car or in the trees.
Give them a calm environment, free of disturbance and perceived threat and they are less likely to attempt airborne maneuvers. This means keep them pesky little kiddies away, dont mow the grass anywhere near the chicken yard and, of course, dogs, cats, possums, hawks, foxes, owls, coyotes, ... predators in general, should be eliminated.
Like any of that is gonna happen!
If you want to keep them on the ground, the solution is to clip their wings.
