WING-CLIPPING: CRUEL OR NECESSARY? ~ Open Poll~

[Onyxflock]

I'm worried about my gals, they don't fly. Up to the roost yes, but outside the run they flap their wings and run like crazy. It's hilarious. They're a mixed flock. Brahmas, I didn't expect them to be flyers. But the others, 2 Golden Wyandottes and a RI/Leghorn mix can fly, just don't choose to.

 

[Augustina]

Do you clip your poultry's wings?
Or do you hate it?

I'm curious to know, so please share your opinions.

You are welcome you chat, but if you have a strong opinion, please just be respectful.

GO FOR IT!

I only do it if the birds are flying out over my 7” high fence because the foxes, especially in mid winter, and maybe pole cats or badgers, or even my own house cats, could and would happily have them for dinner! I only clip the wing feathers on one side and have had to do it on my new girls who are less than a year old and were escaping every day . The older hens - 2-6 years old - are either too heavy to fly far or have learnt they’re safer in their own fenced in garden.

 

[SulkyBantam]

my chickens are in a large fenced area (I like to think of it as "semi-free range")

Mine are too. I think thats what semi-free range means.

 

[Lilokieescorter]

Just my opinion, I'm against the amputation but not feather clipping where they'll grow back. My flock are in an enclosed coop, so there's no need for it, now our Guenies are free range & would want them to be able to get away from predators, unfortunately we've also lost 2 out of the 6 we started with ☹

 

[KingD]

Never clipped wings and never will.
No need as far as I can see

 

[SulkyBantam]

Wow this thread really took off!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I think wing clipping is just fine, but I'm not a fan of pinioning

 

[crusadergal]

I have 2 ducks and they are 11 weeks old starting to get lift off and we are on 90 acres so a bit scared they will take off and never come back so I am seriously thinking of getting their wings clipped.. Ive red 17 weeks is a safe age to do this but they seem so fully grown now.. I don't want to hurt them so maybe should get a vet to do it. suggestions

 

[oldhen2345]

I clip my chickens wing for safety. They have a 4 foot yard fence on 3 sides and a 6 ft privacy fence across the back of their yard. I had to put a triangle of wire on the 4x4 posts to the yard fence to keep them from jumping up there and over into the dog yard. I keep all blocks, cans, and yard equipment away from the fence line because they can get up there and over the fence in a heartbeat. I live in town and would hate to lose my chickens.

 

[JadeFarms]

I don’t do it cause I have no need to. But it’s not cruel, it doesn’t hurt them. For some chickens there’s no need to do it, but there are some that can fly great distances so if you have to do it, I say go ahead.