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

[Pghelp]

I'm thankful to have a completely enclosed run now so no more clipping for me ever! Honestly it gives me a lot of joy to watch them fly. We have a plum tree inside the run and numerous perches throughout. I think we're all happier without the wing clipping.

 

[mrskenmore]

Lol what is it about those Easter Eggers that makes them able to scale fences??

I secretly pray they fatten up to end their flying career

 

[NickyPick]

I clip the wing feathers of the 3 month old poults before merging them with the main flock. I only do the pullets if they have a habit of flying up on the barn roof or over fences. Usually, that one time is all that is needed. By the time they molt and the feathers come back, they're either to heavy to fly or just not in the habit anymore.

 

[NickyPick]

I am fortunate enough to not be in a situation where I'd have to consider it - but its not for me to tell others how to raise their flocks. None of the available vote options reflect my respect for your choices as to use your property.

Well, the vote isn't on your opinion of other people's practices, just what you do yourself. Sounds like the last option, if the middle section of the sentence was gone, would be your choice.

 

[CrazyCochin]

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!

We only use it when it is necessary, we also use it on our cockatiels, it isn't cruel at all, we have had some hens that perch in the open or fly over the fence, and where we live, they would get eaten if we didn't do it.
What can hurt them, is if you dont know how to properly do it, It hurts them because the feathers can bleed.
If anyone on here has a problem with fliers, I would encourage it, but only if you have done it before, learn how to properly clip the feathers, or have an experienced person do it.
My response is my opinion, and I dont mean or want to alter anyone else's opinion

 

[kodster]

I've only had to do it on a rare occasion when I've determined that it's the same hen that is flying out of the run (it's open at the top of an 8-ft wall). She'll fly to the cross-beam of the man-access door, then figure it out how to fly from there to the top of the wall, and then over. I'll come outside to do something, check on them to feed them, etc., and that one hen will be out, every day, at the same time, greeting me in the open yard. I don't have a fenced property, so I MUST keep them confined inside their run, in order to not have them be a nuisance to the neighbors. So, once I determine which hen it is, consistently, she gets her one wing clipped, to prevent her from flying over the top of the run. It usually works for a while, breaking her of the habit.

 

[glennbob]

To my knowledge there are two methods of wing clipping:

One is performed mostly on guinea fowl, geese and ducks at a very young age amputating part of their wing to prevent them from flying away and join wild geese when migrating.
I do not approve of this method as it is mutilating the bird.

The second method is to just clip the bird's wingfeathers on one side to prevent them from escaping and putting themselves in danger.
If correctly done, this method will not harm the bird and the bird will regrow the lost feathers when moulting.
I sometimes perform it on volatile and/or very curious and adventurous young individuals in their first year. As soon as they start to lay their behaviour changes and it is not longer necessary as they will stay with their flock/rooster.

Clipping the wing at the distal (farthest) joint is called pinioning. It is a permanent procedure. I’m not in favor of pinioning. Clipping the wing feathers is a temporary option where the feathers grow back with the next mount. It’s easily done at home with a sharp pair of scissors. Just be careful of any blood feathers. I clip my birds wing feathers (chicken, turkey, and duck) until they learn to stay inside the fence then I don’t do it anymore.

glennbob

 

[Double Yolked]

Clipping a wing or two is better than picking up dead chickens. I've had runners before, birds who fly over the fence no matter what, those I have to clip. And I've had to pick up one or two off the nearby highway as well as had them wander far from my land and into some very dangerous neighbors acreage. Dangerous as in a pair of dogs that while they won't leave their territory they will kill any small animal or bird they can catch. Not a good thing for pampered tame hens.
Usually I don't have to clip. My fences all have no rail along the top, just wire and I've discovered the majority of my hens will fly over if they have a bar or fence rail to land on on top. But open wire on top they'll stay on the inside. Hope it continues to be way!

 

[rascal66]

Have the rare occasion of a new hen wanting to explore and go out of their boundaries. A simple clip of the primaries on one wing is usually enough. Really tricky escape artists get both wings clipped. But thankfully, good molts help bring those feathers back sometimes, with the hope they have learned to no longer fly where they aren't supposed to.

 

[Alyssa-Bee]

I do not think safely cutting their flight feathers is cruel. I did do it but don't think I will again, because nobody has tried to escape and they are all out of the 'I'm an invisible teen' stage. Our neighbors have two big rottweilers just on the other side of the fence who would love a tasty chicken dinner, but because nobody has hopped the fence, I don't think I will have to do anything. Although I will definitely clip again if someone does start jumping.

I am against pinioning.