Will clipping wings solve our problem?

[LeahOregon]

We worked outside all day today making a nice run for our 4 girls. The fence we built is only about 4.5 feet high, and we thought that would be tall enough to keep them in. However, just a few minutes after we put them in, they were back out, running around the yard. The only way they could have gotten out was to go over the fence. They probably flew to the top of their coop (about 3 feet above the ground), then made their escape over the fence.

Will a wing clipping keep them ground-bound enough that they won't be able to make it the 3 feet to the top of their coop? If not, all our work was in vain!

Thanks,

Leah

 

[Beekissed]

Wing clipping will not solve this problem, they will still hop up onto any solid seeming surface and hop down on the other side. Any fence post that is big enough to land upon is a potential problem, as is the roof of your coop. Take any extra fencing or trimmed off fencing and fasten some to the edge of these areas so that it projects about 3-4 inches above the landing surface. This usually discourages them from attempting to hop up onto the surface as they cannot get a foot hold.

This works on all the gates of my perimeter fencing and garden gates as well.

 

[Matt A NC]

You only clip one wing. That way they are off balance and after a few attempts will give up for awhile.

I had to clip a girls wing feathers last week. She was clearing at 11' fence. Now she can't manage a 4 foot fence. She kept visiting the neighbors and that yard is unprotected from the dogs that roam around. Her sister is getting clipped tomorrow for the same reason.

Matt

 

[Lollipop]

Yeah, what Matt said.........Pop

 

[Beekissed]

My gals can still hit the roosts every night ~ 4.5 ft. high ~with one wing clipped. And they are fatties!

Best to double down on your insurance and apply the strip of fencing.

 

[LeahOregon]

Here's a picture of our setup. Are we in danger of the girls flying over the wooden fence?

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[drumstick diva]

YES. could you cover the top of the run with wire to keep them in?

 

[SunnyDawn]

Yep. You have an easy step ladder set-up there for them. I clip only 1 wing of all my gals but they would have NO problem getting over that! Even with the wings clipped they can hop pretty high! In your case they will just hop from one structure to the next. It wouldn't be a stretch at all. Just a couple of lazy hops.

 

[briteday]

Yes, you have the coops right under the fence. The birds will just hop up onto the coop (still an easy jump with a clipped wing) and then over the fence they go, another easy hop even with clipped wings.

 

[rhoda_bruce]

I currently have 55 chickens in my coop and clipping their left wings solved my problem with 4 and 5 foot sections of fence. Now I can't argue that covering the whole thing with a canopy would be extra insurance for you, not to mention safer from preditors, but the quickest, cheapest fix would be a pair of scissors. I have to agree with the one wing thing. You have to mess up the balance. If you can canopy, good.