Hens wings need clipping?

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My 28 young ladies are 8 days old and doing fine. I have 1 question will I need to clip there wings? They will be housed most of the time or in chicken tractors but will be released into a fenced area that is open on occasion.

Any help would be helpful

Todd in Maine

-- Todd in Maine (todd.leeman@colehaan.com), April 22, 2002

Answers

Hi Todd...I'd wait until they are trying to fly to clip their wings. Hubby holds them upside down (confuses them and they stay calm)while I spread one wing and just give it a haircut. If you only clip one wing it messes up their equilibrium when they try to fly and eventually quit trying. You might have to clip them a couple of times for maximum effect. I have 62 chicks that just turned 3 weeks old yesterday. I have 51 Barred Rock Pullets, 2 Barred Rock Roosters, and 9 Auracanas (don't know what sex they are). I bought the Auracanas as an afterthought at the feed store. Good Luck.....Harmony

-- Harmony (harmonyfarm57@hotmail.com), April 22, 2002.

Yes Todd, we watch our new girls and as soon as it is obvious that they are trying to fly.......clip the wing feathers on one wing. They try again and fail and seldom do we every have to clip them again.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), April 22, 2002.

The last time I clipped wings, the varmints appreciated it! It makes them easier to catch. I have a lot of varmint problems and wing clipping just makes it worse.

If you are unsure, you may want to clip some birds and see which ones do better. I haven't had any flying problems with mine. They tend to walk wherever they go.

-- dave (d@d.net), April 22, 2002.


dave, I never clip my free range birds. I think we are speaking of two different things here.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), April 22, 2002.

I have 2 RIR, even with clipping, the still manage to fly up and over the fence, NO MATTER WHAT,, works on some birds,, but there are the exceptions to the rule

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), April 22, 2002.


Try "Nair" Stan, they won't fly then, I guarantee it! Sorry, just couldn't resist! LOL Seriously though, can they fly even if you clip the primary flights on both wings? This grounds even the best duck flyers, just wondering if it works on chickens? LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), April 22, 2002.

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