Clipping wings

[Sunbeam]

Is this a cruel practice or is it safe & acceptable. My battery girls hop over the gate (approx 5 feet high) and are raiding next doors gardens, even though we have put the plastic 'stop the pigeons landing' spikey stuff on the top...

my neighbours have only just moved in and I don't want to make enemies of them ; I wondered whether this might stop them going AWOL, but won't do it if it is in any way cruel

Any advice/opinions ?

[Snadger]

First of all I think you only need to'clip' one wing. Secondly, I'm led to believe it is only the removal of the flight feathers NOT actually clipping the wings!
No doubt a seasoned chook person will be along shortly to explain how to do it!

[Two_Sheds]

It is in no way cruel.
What would be cruel, would be letting your birds escape and then be prey to dogs, cats and foxes.

You only clip feathers ... it's like cutting hair, on us. See old threads for detailed explanation, on your Search button

[pipscariad]

I've clipped the wings of our three girls, as they live about a mile and a half away from my home, in an electric fenced enclosure. I didn't want them flying out and into the jaws of a waiting fox...

It was an amazingly simple procedure (I dithered for about three weeks before doing it though!) - OH held the hen, whilst I cut along its primary feathers with some sharp scissors (just the one wing, so as to make them 'lopsided' on take off). The hens weren't phased at all, I was amazed!

Good luck, there are excellent threads about it on here and other places.

[Jardiniere]

one of my chickens is broody and flies out of their run to get back to the nesting box which is separate to the run. we hadnt named her so thought Mrs Johnson would be a good name after the flyer....Amy Johnson.....but as she is always trying to get back to the hen house we decided on Amy Henhouse and it wouldnt be fair to clip her wings would it?

[Sunbeam]

Okay - we clipped one wing as per the diagram & the little blighters were still in next doors garden the next day - so as one site said we did the other ones too...success!!

A very easy process, we made sure we didn't cut to far down the shaft of the feather & now I have a garden full of lovely chickens - yey! Perhaps my new neighbours will talk to me now!

[di]

We have that rather fun job to do this arvo!!We're finally taking the plunge & properly mixing the existing chooks & the new ones~they're coming up for 18 weeks & already bigger than the others so hopefully will be able to fend for themselves~only thing is they no where near as tame & if they did manage to fly over the run I don't think we'd ever get them back!!
Not sure how often you have to do them?Is it after every mault?

[Sunbeam]

I take it all back - the little buggers are still getting out! I have checked the fence up and down & there is no gap for them to get out of - they can't be flying over surely - not with clipped wings... the fence is approx 4.5ft chicken wire. I am at my whits end... I don't want to leave them in a run, but am rapidly of patience!

[lynda66]

make them jumpers ..... without arm holes ..... that will work

[Jardiniere]

when i move mine next year as i clear a space for them on my uncleared bit..because it will be just out of sight of the house i am thinking of building a fruit cage type run ....one with a top as well as sides......

[di]

I take it all back - the little buggers are still getting out! I have checked the fence up and down & there is no gap for them to get out of - they can't be flying over surely - not with clipped wings... the fence is approx 4.5ft chicken wire. I am at my whits end... I don't want to leave them in a run, but am rapidly of patience!

You've worried me now!!Made the decision to put our younger 2 in with the rest(going away for w/e & figured it'd be easier for the chap looking after them!)So clipped their wings today thinking it'd keep them in~Now I have visions of the poor chap chasing them around the plots!!Gee can they run!!

[Sunbeam]

Train them! I mentioned in another thread that I whistle to them when I feed them - and when I go into the garden & whistle they come running! It's funny to watch!!