cliiping hens wings

[phil2012]

i bought a black rock hen the other day well more saved her poor thing she was said to be free rand and was to an extent but no grass just a load of concreate to roam on a good large healty hen not stressed but i belive that they should have at least some grass and mud to scrat around in but thats my opion the owner told me she had , her wings clipped i got her anyway to give her a better life i just dont agree with wing clipping as it looks horrible and in my oppion if the bird is happy then she wont need to go any where i have 14 other chicken/hens all with thier wings in tact and yes they fly to the top of the fence but i have never had to go knocking on my next door neibours to find my chickens just wonded outher people views also can i ask the questions once shes been clipped is that it or could she produce new feathers ???
lookforward to hearing peoples views and oppions cheers phil

 

[valeriebutterley]

Hens appear to me to be highly territorial, and don't seem to need clipped wings, or other restraints, preferring home and their mates.
A couple of years ago a woman bought a Pekin from me changed her mind and returned the hen demanding her money back. She was welcome to it.
Next day my granddaughters and I were playing with the hen who was very tame, and discovered she had a clipped wing. I was horrified, it had totally spoiled the beauty of this little creature.
So no, I personally HATE clipped wings.

 

[Chuck]

I don't clip wings but have no problem if others find it necessary. It is only partially effective as they can still flutter quite a distance, up down and across.
It's not permanent of course as they will re-grow with no problems when the birds moult.

 

[Stanley]

I have no need to clip mine, unsure if any of mine have been, but mine can all 'fly' and fly over stable doors ect
they cane exactly fly over our non existant fence

 

[chrismahon]

Don't clip ours unless absolutely necessary (two of the Leghorn Bantams are a problem). Clipping wings means they have lost their main predator escape mechanism -they become 'sitting ducks' so to speak.

 

[BabyBantam]

In two minds. Clipped wings when I first got them to keep them from straying, but only the once & they now have full flight feathers. They are happy to stay in our garden & within their garden fenced area (fence only 50cm high with no roof),so supports the terretorial theory. However, now Mildreds broody, she's taken to the wing to try & find a way into the nestbox. Today, I found her both on the top of the ark, then half way up the apple tree, trying to get through the garage window as it (I presume) looked a nice dark opening that may have given her a good hidey hole!