[feelingbroody]

   My girls are now approaching 15 weeks, do I , should I or when should I clip wings and is it only the one??? I have clipped wings in the past but not chickens so I dont want to get it wrong. Any help please. Oh I do have seven foot fencing round the garden but I just want to be sure they dont fly off. My garden is fax proof as far as I am aware I have never seen one or seen any signs of one. I do have cats in the garden though. I would only intend only letting them go free range if I was at home also.

Thank you

Broodiness  :blink:

[joyfull]

  My girls are now approaching 15 weeks, do I , should I or when should I clip wings and is it only the one??? I have clipped wings in the past but not chickens so I dont want to get it wrong. Any help please. Oh I do have seven foot fencing round the garden but I just want to be sure they dont fly off. My garden is fax proof as far as I am aware I have never seen one or seen any signs of one. I do have cats in the garden though. I would only intend only letting them go free range if I was at home also.

Thank you

Broodiness  :blink:

so no point me asking for the fax number so my hens can send messages to yours then 

[joyfull]

I don't clip my girls wings as I like them being able to get out of the dogs reach just incase my dogs have a lapse of concentration and chase them.
If you do decide to clip then yes it is just the one wing so that they get unbalanced when trying to fly (they still will be able to fly but not as well) and then after they moult you clip the other side to keep their muscles even.

[dizzylizzie]

I have only clipped 2 of my chickens wings as they were both very flighty...however , these 2 STILL get over the fence on a regular basis :blink: :blink: :blink:

[compostqueen]

I gave up bothering as my light weight little hybrids just flew right out the coop once they'd been done, just as if to say yah boo snubs to you missus 

The chickens probably won't fly out (bantams might) over a 7 foot fence but the fox may and I wouldn't let them out unaccompanied

[Elcie]

We had a 3ft fence and so therefore it wasn't worth clipping wings as they can literally hop over it.

One word of caution for you though - if the cats can get in and out then so can the foxes.  Just because you have never seen one doesn't make your garden fox proof I am afraid.

[Evansent]

Just the other day I watched a fox scale our 6ft fence...easy as pie..didin't think twice. Thank goodness my girls were in their runs!!!

[sunshineband]

Could girls the size of a blackstar fly over a fence 2.4m high?

[joyfull]

Hi Sunny, - just had to get my tape measure out to see how high 2.4m high is - turns out it's nearly 8 feet (I can think better in feet and inches  ) so I doubt it, if they were bantams then yes but large fowl especially when over a year old then no 

[feelingbroody]

I don't clip my girls wings as I like them being able to get out of the dogs reach just incase my dogs have a lapse of concentration and chase them.
If you do decide to clip then yes it is just the one wing so that they get unbalanced when trying to fly (they still will be able to fly but not as well) and then after they moult you clip the other side to keep their muscles even.

LOL you really are bonkers on here aren't you 

[feelingbroody]

Ok chaps, thank you for your posts! and faxes  I think I will cllip the wings although they do seem a lot steadier over the last few days (amazing what a few grapes can do !! although they do get confused with pink nail varnish.... mine that is not the husbands 
I only intend to let them roam around whilst I am with them pottering in the garden.

Next question ..... when you let them out  .....how do you get them back in ? or are they homing chickens    sorry to ask such a daft question but I really dont know

Cheers all

broodiness 

[joyfull]

I don't clip my girls wings as I like them being able to get out of the dogs reach just incase my dogs have a lapse of concentration and chase them.
If you do decide to clip then yes it is just the one wing so that they get unbalanced when trying to fly (they still will be able to fly but not as well) and then after they moult you clip the other side to keep their muscles even.

LOL you really are bonkers on here aren't you 

dont understand why you think I'm bonkers as the statement above is factual.

[feelingbroody]

sorry joyfull I think I quoted the wrong answer  I meant the one about my typo with the fax

[feelingbroody]

is there a link on here on correct way to clip flight feathers pls joyful

thank you

[joyfull]

if you type into google how to clip a chickens wings it should show you a link to the omlet website where you will fing photos 
As I said I don't do it however I have had to do 1 of the guinea fowl this evening as he has spent last night and all day over the beck and in next doors garden - luckily she really likes them so when I hatch some next year she is going to have some off me