The Poultry Keeper The Independent Forum for Poultry Keepers    FAQ   Search     Register   Log in  Wing Clipping          The Poultry Keeper Forum Index -> General & Misc Author Message Bendix01 Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 214 Location: Northern Soul, Southern Heart - Surrey Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 11:37 am    Post subject: Wing Clipping When and why should / should it not be done? I have a small garden and am getting Bantams. Will they need clipping? They will be out in the garden most times so will it prevent fence hopping? Back to top George Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 11:43 am    Post subject: From omlets site http://www.omlet.co.uk/guide/guide.php?view=Chickens&cat=Chicken%20Care&sub=wing%20clipping Quote: Stop Your Chickens Flying Away To prevent your chickens from flying away and exploring the neighbourhood when you let them out, you should do some wing clipping. This involves trimming the primary feathers on one wing, in order to make take-off an unbalanced affair. Only trim the primary feathers as the others provide necessary insulation. To see how far back you can trim the feathers without hurting the chicken, hold the feathers up to the light and you will see where the bloodvessels start in the shafts of the feathers. As a rule, no further than 6cm of feather should be removed. Be sure to clip the wings again each time the chicken moults! Back to top NannyP Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 11631 Location: 86310 Nr St Savin Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 1:14 pm    Post subject: I haven't clipped any of mine. The only escape artists appear to be the younger Shetlands, and that is because they are chased by the older flock. Back to top CP Moderator Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 16285 Location: Hampshire Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 4:49 pm    Post subject: We have some that try & others that never do - all bantams. Had to resort to clipping a few times only so far. Back to top LisaLou Joined: 10 Sep 2005 Posts: 109 Location: Herts Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 6:56 pm    Post subject: I clipped mine but I really wish I hadn't It doesn't seemed to have made the slightest bit of difference and I certainly won't bother doing it again when they moult. Having said that, it was a very simple procedure. I had never so much as held a chicken before and I managed it with no problems. Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First         The Poultry Keeper Forum Index -> General & Misc All times are GMT + 1 Hour Page 1 of 1 Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group