One wing or two?

[roitelet]

Just wondering what other people do.

I clip one wing of the chooks to put them of balance but they still manage to fly to quite a height. Would it be better if I clipped both wings?

[sheena]

I only clip one of mine too, and I agree they can still make a 4ft fence. I have to be really careful when they are free ranging, cos if they jump the fence... well I won't have to feed the dog!

[OverWyreGrower]

I think if you clip two, they can fly again, as the whole point of clipping is to unbalance them... (correct me if I'm wrong!)

[Glutton4...]

Wot OWG said!

Mine are unclipped at the moment, one or two fly, but only about a foot off the ground. Having said that, last year I had a determined Chook get over the leccy fence, and she had had a wing clipped, so you can never be sure what they can do!

[roitelet]

Thanks all, I'll stick to one wing and net the top of the run. They could free range but make such a huge mess of the garden and I spend all my time putting the mulch back!

[RichmondHens]

My big hens stay in without the need for much clipping (99% of the time - they will fly out if suddenly alarmed) although the cocks will get out if they fancy picking a fight with someone else across the field. I have some bantams though who will get out whatever we do to them - clip one wing, two wings, peg the fence down, it doesn't matter what we do they will find a way - over, under or through!

[tlck9]

even my leghorn is pretty well behaved and stays within the 3 foot fence. Only when she ws spooked by my 3 year old god daughter did she fly over, but never since, she got a bit scared and headed straight back to the gate