[Julesanne]

This is the first time i have written on here, but have been reading this for a long time, All of your questions and answers are priceless. I have four hens, and live in a village with gardens all round the back of my garden. My hens have a nice run, but i want them to be free range when i am there to keep an eye on them. I am new to keeping hens and only got them late last year. I want to clip their wings so that they don't get out of my garden. My next door has 3 dogs and i don't want them over there else they will be lunch! I am a bit nervous on how to clip their wings. I have read a peice in a book about what to do but i wanted some experienced advice, and i'm sure there is someone out there that has done this and knows what to do. Is there a knack to this, is there too far you can crop, and do i use just normal everyday scissors? I have a brown hen and 3 bantams.

[cathangirl]

Welcome to the forum JulesAnne,
Only clip feathers on one wing, to make the hens lop-sided if they try to fly.  Even with a clipped wing, a hen can clear 4 - 5ft mind.
Only clip the large out wing feathers and no lower than 2.5 inches.  They are some photos on here somewhere, so someone may put up the link to them if you wait a hile.
Good luck,
cathangirl

[cathangirl]

that should read "the large outer feathers".
cathangirl

[Aunt Sally]

Best to have help first time you do this one to hold the hen and one to use the scissors

Leave about an inch to an inch and a half of feather than there is no danger of cutting where the blood vessels are.

[Julesanne]

Thank you so much for your very prompt advice. I will also put some trellis on the top of my garden fence just to be on the safe side. I can't wait to see them foraging around my garden.

[smiler43]

Yeah 2 people will make it a lot easier.

Good pic Aunt Sally, might be a good one for the stickies?

[RGManby]

Another good tip when clipping, is get them just before just nightfall, they are a wee bit calmer then and easier to handle.

[woodburner]

Make sure the dogs can't get in either. It has been known.