[Vickie & Richard]

Is it essential to clip your bird wings.  I am hoping to let them wonder around the garden(s) [we have very open plan gardens with our neighbours and most off them are fine with them free ranging] and was wondering if it is wise to do their wings or not?

We have a road very close to us, will they be ok with that? will the green grass keep them happy?

[agingchick]

Hi I was worried about that as well so I decided to play safe and clip their wings I found a good site that explained it in detail
http://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-wingclipping.html
 
it's a good idea to have some one helping you
good luck
Di

[orfy]

If there is a chance they will need to escape a fox then I wouldn't.
If you feed them and keep them happ they shouldn't go far.
Is there a fence between the chickens and road?

[Aunt Sally]

I clip my chooks wings to stop them flying into the neighbours gardens.

But as to your question about the grass keeping them happy - they will love to graze on it.  

They will also love digging in any flower bed to find grubs or any other tasty morsel  and to make big dust bath scrapes. Given the chance there will be nothing green left untouched, they are great little JCBs.  The Somme would be a good description of an unprotected flower bed  

[raeburg]

I'm letting mine help me clear the allotment.  They're no too good at the 12 foot high brambles, but stuff lower down - watch out.  The ex-batts haven't enough wing feathers at the moment to make clipping them an issue.  


Allotment Album

[Vickie & Richard]

If there is a chance they will need to escape a fox then I wouldn't.
If you feed them and keep them happ they shouldn't go far.
Is there a fence between the chickens and road?

There are some deep step leading upto the main road, it isn't fenced at the moment, we are looking to gate it because off my 9month old beagle.

[Chookaholic]

I got my chookies 2 days ago,& was told they would only fly up to about 3 ft.Well I let them free range for the first time 2day,& one flew without a run up,to perch on top of my 6ft fence.I'm clipping them 2moro :shock: Never under estimate a chicken! That's what I have learnt....