early bed...

mickwood · « **on:** July 19, 2008, 23:02 »

The girls are spending their first night here and they went in the coop early (about 7pm?) is this normal? I was expecting to have to 'convince' them to use the coop but no...little darlings went in at 7pm and instead of thinking "brilliant, they like the coop" I start thinking "ooh eck, that's early, what's wrong!?"

and...do I need to clip their wings? they're banties...have a 7 foot fence...could they fly over? If I have to do it...how is it done?

compostqueen · « **Reply #1 on:** July 19, 2008, 23:05 »

bantams are flighty so I would. Mind you I did mine and the little un just upped and flew off right out the coop :roll: Doh

you need to do it properly and I'd get someone to help you as you need a steady hand to do the cutting and better if you don't have to hold the chicken at the same time. There's probably a picture on here somewhere

If not, there's one on the Omlet site

mickwood · « **Reply #2 on:** July 19, 2008, 23:18 »

Yeah, just had a quick nose at youtube...there's a vid of how to do it on there - isn't youtube brilliant sometimes eh!?

Feel a bit funny clipping the girls wings but if it means they can roam the garden freely it's gotta be worth it

compostqueen · « **Reply #3 on:** July 19, 2008, 23:18 »

you only do it on one side

PekinHeaven · « **Reply #4 on:** July 19, 2008, 23:50 »

If you clip their wings if the fox calls round they won't be able to get away, and at 7ft I shouldnt think they'd fly over that height.

mickwood · « **Reply #5 on:** July 20, 2008, 08:38 »

well....never say never but my garden has a metal railed fence all around it which is set into concrete so...hopefully fox proof? :?

I may leave the wings until I get any sign from the girls they can and will make a run for it!!

Skip · « **Reply #6 on:** July 20, 2008, 08:50 »

If any of you have fox problems, set an all-metal rat trap with an appropriate bait. Whilst it won't kill them it will give them a good whack-on-the-snout to put them off visiting again soon!

Daisycow · « **Reply #7 on:** July 20, 2008, 13:30 »

We have 6 pekins and have never clipped their wings

. They dont attempt to fly and we only have a 4ft fence :shock: ! They will fly from one end of the garden to the other, but thats not often, and never high! As for a 7pm bedtime, we have one that goes to bed about then. The last one usually goes to bed about and hour and a half later! :roll:

mumsy · « **Reply #8 on:** July 20, 2008, 18:59 »

Your girl's are luvverly, Mick. I wouldn't clip the wing unless you have a problem. Once they know where all the home comforts are, they won't go far

kimT · « **Reply #9 on:** July 21, 2008, 09:22 »

I agree with mumsy.

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