Worried about my chicks flying out of run...

[H-TrueNorth]

I have a flock of 4 Golden Comets. About 15months old. I just got my Meyer Hatchery chicks about 7 weeks ago and they have feathered out nicely. Dominique's, White Rocks, & Silver Laced Wyandottes. They seem a bit more edgy than my Goldens and although I have just constructed a 30X40 foot enclosed run with 8foot high steel cloth wrap, I am a bit nervous that the little guys will fly out. Not sure how flighty the 3 breeds I mentioned are. I got them due to good temperament and cold tolerance as I am a Massachusetts guy. I really don't want to enclose the whole thing but will if I have to. The Goldens don't want to fly out. They love it and seem quite content. I am sure I will just have to try it out and see but I would hate to lose any of my little ladies as my family has put so much time and love into them already. There might be a question in here somewhere. Glad for any thoughts or experience...
Thanks,
Central Mass Guy.

 

[kmatt87]

you could always cover the run or clip a wing on each of your flyers.
I think i'm going to have to clip the wing on each of mine too

 

[H-TrueNorth]

Watched a video on YouTube on clipping. Any thoughts on cutting the quick and bleeding out the little gals? The video said to hold the wing to the light and look for the blood in the feather tubes but on occasion I will even nip my dogs nails which I imagine to be a bit like cutting the wings. You ever done it before?

 

[kmatt87]

Watched a video on YouTube on clipping. Any thoughts on cutting the quick and bleeding out the little gals? The video said to hold the wing to the light and look for the blood in the feather tubes but on occasion I will even nip my dogs nails which I imagine to be a bit like cutting the wings. You ever done it before?

i have not, but i've dealt with plenty of other animals. just go a little higher from where you feel comfortable and have some blood stop powder on hand in case you nick one of them.

 

[H-TrueNorth]

Good Idea. Kind of like cutting lumber. Better to cut to little than to much. I can always work down.
Thanks for the quick reply. As you can see I am a "New Egg"...
Take Care.

 

[kmatt87]

Good Idea. Kind of like cutting lumber. Better to cut to little than to much. I can always work down.
Thanks for the quick reply. As you can see I am a "New Egg"...
Take Care.

you're welcome. i'm fairly new to this myself, only i've been planning non stop. lol. Drives my hubby nuts, but i feel alot more comfortable that way.

 

[janelle18]

my girls run is only 4 foot chicken wire underneath pine trees, which you can kinda see in this picture.
None of mine have attempted an escape. I think that when a chicken realizes this is where there friends, food and shelter is there are more then content to stay ... The only reason I would think they would try and fly out is if a predator got in, and in that case i would want them to escape! Good luck with your chickens!

 

[H-TrueNorth]

Wow,.. now thats a cool enclosure. Guess I should have opened my mind a bit about using what nature offered instead of PT lumber.... The only predator has been the neighbor up the road's 2 pitt bulls (I used to have a flock of 6 Goldens). That was the reason for the build. Burried the steel cloth about 2 feet deep and then tamped the soil above. Strong door and the coop is always open on the inside. I do hope the little ones dig it. Thanks for your experience. Hope mine is similar.

 

[H-TrueNorth]

 

[jak2002003]

If they fly out of the run, they will just fly right back in when they are ready. But, if you have dogs or predators out there then you don't want them getting out!

Just clip one or both wings (really does not seem to make any difference in my experience). Its very easy to do. You will be very unlucky if you get a blood feather. I have never cut one. They are easy to see as the shaft in the middle will be full of blood and the feather itself will look not 'finished'. I cut ALL the long flight feathers from both winds now. My birds are small bantams and I found they could still fly well if I cut any less. You can cut them close to the wing.

I put the bird in a towel on my lap. Open up the towel, but leaving the birds head covered (keeps it still). Then gently stretch out one wing at a time and use sharp scissors to cut off the flight feathers. Its safe to cut them hight up - just take you time.

If you ever cut a blood feather, you can simply pull it out with tweezers. Then the bleeding will stop very quickly, and a new feather will start to grow.

Good luck.