Wing clipping

[jamjellybina]

Just wondered if anyone has done it successfully on any of their ladies? Our little ginger ranger despite being the most timid of our four is proving to be the bravest when it comes to adventuring However I don't much fancy chasing (at best) her round next doors garden as she keeps ending up on top of our 6' fence. How is that possible? She has both wings clipped and isn't very light looking in body shape. Any suggestions short of removing her wings altogether lol

[Hilary B]

You shouldn't clip BOTH wings! The idea is to cause imbalance by clipping ONE! I don't know whether you can do anything about it now until after she moults and grows a new set of feathers. That would depend just how 'clipped' he wings are.

[MaureenHall]

I agree with Hilary, never clip both wings, you might as well not clip at all if you do that

[jamjellybina]

Just one wasn't creating any kind of imbalance, nor stopping her gaining height, maybe the chap at the farm is an idiot or she's just a fluke. Both were done on the same principal as parrots - "take enough away to stop flight, save enough to allow a glide" Works well enough to stop birds that are supposed to fly but does nothing for ones that aren't. I feel thoroughly chastised now, maybe we'll be having roast chicken on Sunday after next-doors dog kills her.

[MaureenHall]

Don't feel chastised, we're all on a very steep learning curve here and we're all here to help each other. Is there any way you could put something on the top of the fence to put her off flying up there?

[Flummery]

If you can string a wire just above the top of the fence -a few inches - it might deter her from trying to fly over because she won't be able to gauge the top? Maybe??

[Jardiniere]

I had to cover the whole of my hens run with netting as one of them kept flying out - its got very ragged now and there are holes but she's not attempting to fly - i couldnt clip their wings - i know i'd get it wrong.....i think the wire ontop of the fence perhaps with bits of netting and stuff dangling and hanging could put your hen off....have you ever watched a hen do a risk assessment? Its amazing - you can see her little brain working....looks this way...looks that way...looks up....assesses all the angles......

[Nicos]

No advice here I'm afraid...mine free-range- and I need them to be able to flee from M Reynard

Mind you- when I get the electric fencing.... ( just have a gut feeling they'll pop over the top as and when they wish!!!)

[KimT]

We had to clip wings of our three young chooks as they were getting on the fence and went off scratting in the neighbours gardens ...............thank God they were at work!

Well the wing clipping didn't help and they still got onto the fence and had a great time so we have now had to extend the hight of the fence using 2"x2" posts and netting....................works a treat.