Breeds that fly and wing clipping query

[Sue]

I have 6 hens, one of each - Wyandotte, French Blue Maran, Barnvelder, two Sussex and a Crested Cream Legbar. Please can someone tell me which would fly and which wouldn't. They are all large, not bantam and 18-21 weeks old. I need to know which ones, if any, I need to wing clip and I want to start letting them out of their enclosed covered run into the garden and there are dogs living next door who would kill them if they got into their garden. There is a 6' fence between us, but also a 4' picket fence that could be used as a stepping stone over the 6'.

 

[mightymohan]

they are all probably capable of escaping. i would take no chances and clip one wing on all of them!

 

[Anonymous]

Agree with mightymohan. I assumed our blue Orpington couldn't/wouldn't fly as next door's Orpingtons don't, but unfortunately she copies our Leghorns & gets up onto all sorts of places :roll: :lol:

 

[daniellesdogs]

mainly bantam breeds try to fly but my big girls do make it over the fence as they want to come in doors so spoilt

 

[Chicken Chaser]

Howdy,

If you do clip their wings, make sure you only clip one wing per chicken, otherwise their wings will be even and they can still fly. Clipping one wing will not give the chicken enough balance to fly.
Or if you don't want to clip their wings, you can put a strip of duck-tape on one wing. Then when you want the duck-tape off you can peel the duck-tape off in the direction of their feathers.

I hope this helps.
~Chicken Chaser

 

[Marigold]

Legbars are brilliant flyers. the other heavier breeds do settle down as they mature, but young hens in a new environment will always want to explore and are still all active enough to fly out.
Wing clipping has its problems. It's not fully effective, especially in the setup you describe. They could still easily fly up on to a 4ft fence and then hop over to the top of the 6ft one, especially the Legbar. Also of course it reduces their chance of escaping from a predator like a dog or fox if attacked or chased. and it causes them problems when it comes to the moult - the clipped feathers don't seem to be shed properly and it's hard for the bird to replace them when she needs to.

You might consider getting a moveable grass run and putting them out in that during the day, and moving it on every day or so - this keeps the birds safe whilst giving them ranging, and also spreads and reduces the damage to the grass. It's lovely to see them freely moving round the garden, but safety must come first, for your peace of mind as well as theirs.

 

[E3lx]

Agree with mightymohan and marigold. I had an adult legbar cockerel who flew from the back garden to the neighbours roof! I had a dutch bantam cockerel who, even with clipped wings, flew over a 4.6 foot fence! The heavier breeds are less likey to fly, but when they get desperate they will anyway.

 

[chrismahon]

Wyandottes can fly over a 4 foot fence, even the cockerels. CRB's can clear 6 feet -ours used to roost in the trees at night, so high sometimes I couldn't reach them, even with step ladders. As they get older they get heavier and less energetic, so after the first moult wing clipping should be unnecessary. Don't have experience of the other breeds.

 

[foxy]

Well Sue's hens have either flown off or happy in their own garden by now! :lol:

 

[Chuck]

Well Sue's hens have either flown off or happy in their own garden by now! :lol:

Add - but feel free to talk amongst yourelves !!! :lol: