wing clipping

[JAE1974]

Morning. I have an 8 week old flock of various breeds. At what age should their wings be clipped and should I clip one or both wings? When we raised chickens when I was a kid, we clipped one and never had any issues, but I have recently started keeping chickens again and have received advice stating both. Thanks in advance.

 

[007Sean]

By 'clipping' do mean surgically removing the primaries or just cutting them with scissors?
At 8 weeks their a little old to be surgically removing them...should be done within days of hatching but it can still be done, just a greater chance of bleeding out or infection.
If your 'free ranging' them I would recommend not clipping their wing.

 

[JAE1974]

By 'clipping' do mean surgically removing the primaries or just cutting them with scissors?
At 8 weeks their a little old to be surgically removing them...should be done within days of hatching but it can still be done, just a greater chance of bleeding out or infection.
If your 'free ranging' them I would recommend not clipping their wing.

I mean cutting. There will be no surgery. All free-ranging will be supervised as I live in an area where various hawks, falcons and occasional golden eagles nest.

 

[007Sean]

I mean cutting. There will be no surgery. All free-ranging will be supervised as I live in an area where various hawks, falcons and occasional golden eagles nest.

In that case I'd just clip one wing. That will be enough to keep them from flying any great distance or being able to get very far off the ground.

 

[JAE1974]

In that case I'd just clip one wing. That will be enough to keep them from flying any great distance or being able to get very far off the ground.

Thank you, sir.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Morning. I have an 8 week old flock of various breeds. At what age should their wings be clipped and should I clip one or both wings? When we raised chickens when I was a kid, we clipped one and never had any issues, but I have recently started keeping chickens again and have received advice stating both. Thanks in advance.

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

Out of hundreds of birds I have only ever had to clip wings on two or three ring leaders to keep them on their side of a 4 foot fence. I don't clip unless needed. But monkey see chicken do! It's almost always been Easter Eggers that insist on roaming farther.

And even then, the clipping needed can vary by individual. For some birds a single side will work. I have had to do a close bilateral clip as being off balance wasn't enough but removing the lift was.

Here is another good discussion on the subject...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/20243847

Clipping wings to keep them inside my fence is a safer alternative then facing the outside world of domestic dogs and such.

ETA: if they weren't INSIDE my fence, I would NOT be clipping. Truly free range birds should have them in tact. to escape ground predators.

 

[JAE1974]

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

Out of hundreds of birds I have only ever had to clip wings on two or three ring leaders to keep them on their side of a 4 foot fence. I don't clip unless needed. But monkey see chicken do! It's almost always been Easter Eggers that insist on roaming farther.

And even then, the clipping needed can vary by individual. For some birds a single side will work. I have had to do a close bilateral clip as being off balance wasn't enough but removing the lift was.

Here is another good discussion on the subject...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/20243847

Clipping wings to keep them inside my fence is a safer alternative then facing the outside world of domestic dogs and such.

ETA: if they weren't INSIDE my fence, I would NOT be clipping. Truly free range birds should have them in tact. to escape ground predators.

Thank you