Hi I have kept chickens for a number of years but this is the first time I have kept bantams we have them in a coop in an Omlet cage but I am a bit worried about letting them free range in the garden as we only have four foot fences and they seem to be able to jump high would clipping there wings help?
Many thanks.

I personally don't like clipping as it also reduces their chances of escaping predators. If they have established the coop as their home and being a group they should be fine but there is always a risk. Can you not rig something up if you are overly worried? - harris panels are a quick easy option.

Hmm, my bantams would fly up onto a Harris panel and perch on the top clipping one wing does cause them a little imbalance but they grow back so you would have to do it often.
They will fly up and onto something hard to perch - if you can run a wobbly bit of string along the top of the fence so they can’t perch they may be put off.

Can't really do anything to the fence panels but nice to know that they still should be ok.
Thankyou

The string idea sounds good. Thankyou

Originally Posted by raine

Can't really do anything to the fence panels but nice to know that they still should be ok.
Thankyou

They never wander - they all stick together in a little group so it’s unusual for one to go off on its own. Even though mine could fly up onto the panels, they would only do it if I was coming down the path with treats or I had just planted up a row of lettuce seedlings in the veg plot

Depends on the breed of bantam - any of the heavy breeds should be fine (but I've had LF Scots Dumpies which far preferred to roost up a tree...) - e.g. Wyandotte, Plymouth Rock, Sussex, Barnvelder - and stay away from flighty ones. if they have enough space and forage were they are, they shouldn't feel the need to stray. And I agree with not clipping always better for the chook to be able to get itself out of trouble if necessary.