What breeds of chickens will fly - help with clipping wings!

[DIMBY]

Hello, have three new Araucanas, inherited them, they are still in isolation but one got out inadvertently -- and proceeded to fly over our 7-foot-high fence! Got her back with no problems,

and I will clip her wings. Can anybody give some guidance on that? I have a diagram and I can get help if needed (is this a two-person job?).

And, are there some breeds that have a hard time flying? I have two Black Australorps and they are so bottom-heavy I can't believe they could fly. What about New Hampshire Reds and black/red stars? What is everybody's experience?

 

[TaLani]

Only clip ONE wing. It is easier if one person holds the chicken while the second person does the actual clipping. Here's a link from the Learning Ctr here on BYC: https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-wingclipping.html

Silkies certainly can't fly much if any. My cochins don't fly either because they're just too fat - er, I mean fluffy.

My red star hen doesn't ever try to fly but each chicken is different. I agree with you about the BA, my BA hens are big girls too. Hope that helps ya little at least.

TaLani

 

[Gonzo]

Awesome link! I know our japanese bantams fly over to the neighbors often, clearing our privacy fence like it isn't even there!
Quote:

 

[RedStarDaddy]

My Red Stars will fly just about waist high when they're crossing the yard just so they can beat out the other stars running for whatever treats I have tossed out or may have tossed out. When they were sleeping in the one tree because the chicken house was full of bad juju for them, they were flying five feet up to get on the one branch then hopping and flapping higher until they were 30 feet or so up. This is at 4-1/2 months old; they may not be able to fly that well in another couple of months.

RSD

 

[MamaMia72]

Mine are great fliers (and very curious!). I tried the one wing clipped method, but have now done both since it didn't seem to work. I am thinking this is actually better for us...I understand that the one wing clipping is to throw off their balance but I think that doing both has now made it just harder to get air and they aren't trying so hard to go on adventures. I would try the one and see what that does for you first. Good luck!

 

[fordmommy]

I clipped my chickens wings because some were escaping. I found out that they would just flap their wings and walk right up the fence. After that, I put a cover on the top of the run and said that I would never clip them again. You can make your own choice.

Here's who to:


http://www.omlet.us/guide/guide.php?view=Ducks&cat=Duck+Health&sub=wing+clipping

http://www.poultryhelp.com/wingclipping.html

 

[rdranch]

We have some 5 month old Blue Andalusians that don't care how much their wings get clipped. Two of them insist on going over a 5' fence, laying eggs in the goat house and then fly back over. Live and let live I say.

 

[d_cat88]

All of mine except the silkies will fly at about head height towards me when they are out of their pen and I am putting treats out

. I have an EE, a BO, 4 red sex links and 3 SLWs. The SLWs are especially prone to flying and they are all laying regularly. I don't clip their wings because they are confined to a covered run unless I am right out there with them to supervise.