Wing clipping

[Daveyboy]

Hi guys I am new to here I think I have made a mistake I have clipped my chickens wings on both sides is this problem

 

[tadpole98]

Hi guys I am new to here I think I have made a mistake I have clipped my chickens wings on both sides is this problem

no, most people clip them on both sides.

 

[FenikT]

Some say to clip only one side, which allegedly puts the bird off balance when they attempt to fly. Trouble is, most birds can still achieve a good degree of height and directional capability if only one side is clipped. Clipping both wings eliminates much of the bird's liftoff capability. Just be cognizant of the bird's environment. Clipping both wings will ground the bird more or less until their next molt, so they will only be able to run or jump. This may increase free-range mortality or make it a bit more difficult for bigger birds to reach their roost in the evening. Food for thought...

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Some say to clip only one side, which allegedly puts the bird off balance when they attempt to fly. Trouble is, most birds can still achieve a good degree of height and directional capability if only one side is clipped. Clipping both wings eliminates much of the bird's liftoff capability. Just be cognizant of the bird's environment. Clipping both wings will ground the bird more or less until their next molt, so they will only be able to run or jump. This may increase free-range mortality or make it a bit more difficult for bigger birds to reach their roost in the evening. Food for thought...

We clip both sides, otherwise our birds are still able to fly over our 4' fence. And they MUST stay in, or they eat the neighbor's vegetable garden. Our hens are perfectly able to reach the top roost (5' high).

 

[FenikT]

What type of birds do you have?

I've got 3 Cornish and 2 EEs. I've only had one "jumper" over the 42" backyard picket fence, which was one of the EEs a few days after I got her. Everyone else seems content w/ their environment and haven't attempted such. One of the Cornish (Mama Bird) is still unclipped. The EEs seem like they are better jumpers than the Cornish. Their roost is only a couple feet off the floor in the coop, plus they have a jump stick in there which is only a foot off the ground, so they can hop up if they don't feel like flying.

I don't think I'll be clipping their wings when they molt later this year.