Some chicks are just natural Houdinis. No matter how high your fence is, they are absolutely determined to get out and destroy the yard.
For most chickens, clipping their wings will solve the problem and keep them where they should be.
Wing clipping is safe and painless for the chicken when done correctly. It's an easy way to prevent runaways and keep your chooks where they need to be.
How to clip a chicken's wings
To clip the wings of a chicken, it is best to work with two people. One person should hold the chicken with wing feathers extended.
Using very sharp, strong scissors, the second person should cut the primary wing feathers. The primary wing feathers are the first 10 (approximately) feathers from the wing tip.
How much feathers need to be trimmed varies per bird. Some say the length of the stroke springs should be reduced by 50%. Another option is to judge the length to cut based on the coverts, the shorter feathers that overlap the primary feathers. As a general rule, the flight feathers are clipped so that they are still slightly longer than the overlapping coverts. However, if your bird has very short or very long coverts, you may need to adjust the size.
Avoid cutting new spines as they contain nerve endings and can bleed. They are tubular and shorter than normal feathers because the feather is still forming.
Frequently asked questions about wing clipping
(:1f414:) Should I cut my chicken wings?
There is no need to clip the wings of the chickens. But if your chickens escape their coop, clipping their wings is an easy way to keep them where they need to be.
You should not clip the wings of show birds as this may disqualify them from the competition.
(:1f414:) Should I clip one or two wings?
Clipping their wings prevents chickens from flying for two reasons: it prevents them from getting enough lift to fly, and it throws them off balance.
Most people say that wing clipping is the best option for keeping chickens on the ground. This usually lands the chicks by throwing them off balance, although it also reduces lift.
However, a chicken with a clipped wing can still escape if the fence is not high or if it has something to jump from. They seem to get used to not being in balance.
For persistent escapees, it is sometimes more efficient to clip both wings, as this significantly reduces lift.
(:1f414:) How quickly will my chicken's feathers grow back?
Feathers do not grow after they are clipped. Instead, a chicken must grow new feathers. This is a normal process. Chickens typically molt once a year and regrow all their feathers. When your chickens are moulting, their flight feathers will also grow back and you will need to clip their wings again.
(:1f414:) Does it hurt my chicken if it cuts off its wing?
Chicken feathers have no nerve endings or blood vessels, so clipping them will not harm your chicken. Just like with human hair, pulling feathers hurts, but cutting them off does not.
Always make sure you only cut off feathers and not skin. As long as you are careful not to cut the feathers too close to the base, you will not harm your chicken.
The exception to this is spines, which are newly hatched feathers. They are easy to recognize because they are small and you can easily tell which shaft they come from. Pin feathers are attached to blood vessels because blood flow is necessary for the feathers to grow. Never cut spines.
(:1f414:) Can chickens fly?
Although chickens can become airborne, especially if they jump from a high place, they cannot actually fly. Most chickens cannot fly further than 3 or 4 meters. Many young chickens get over the fence by first jumping on something. Of course, that means you have wings that can jump (or flap) quite high!
(:1f414:) Should chickens be able to fly?
Being able to fly or flutter can be important for chickens. It helps them avoid predators, reach food and descend from high roosts without injury.
In a backyard chicken coop, chickens are protected from predators and provided with food. As long as you ensure that your chickens are not too large and that your chickens can get out of chicken coops and nest boxes without flying, there is no reason for a domesticated chicken to fly.
Being able to fly can even be dangerous for backyard chickens due to the risk of cars, predators and pets waiting outside their coop.
(:1f414:) Can I cut off a chicken's wing if it sheds?
You should not cut off a chicken wing while it is molting. This increases the risk of clipping a pin feather, which will bleed and be painful for your chicken. Wait until your chicken has finished molting and its feathers are fully grown before clipping its wings.
(:1f414:) Is wing clipping cruel?
When done correctly, wing clipping is completely painless. Because chicks flap short distances rather than fly, clipping their wings does not significantly affect their ability to perform natural behaviors.
However, you should only clip the wings of chickens that are protected from predators, and you should ensure that your birds can get away from the chickens and nest boxes without having to fly.
(:1f414:) My chicken is bleeding, what should I do?
If your chicken bleeds after clipping its wings, you have accidentally cut the skin or cut off a pin feather. The blood is unlikely to clot properly, so you should help by applying a clotting agent. If there is no coagulant in your first aid kit, you can use cornstarch or flour as an alternative.
(:1f414:) What do I need to clip a chicken's wings?
Use sharp scissors, such as kitchen scissors, or very good nail clippers. Feathers are difficult to cut and clipping wings can be traumatic if you cannot cut the feathers properly.
(:1f414:) Why do chickens run away from their coop?
Chickens escape from their coop for various reasons. Some breeds, such as leghorns, are naturally more adventurous than others. Chickens can also run away because they are hungry or bored. Maybe they were startled by something, because they were following a friend or trying to access a good food source on the other side of the fence.
But sometimes hens also flee because they are broody and want their own place to nest, or because they are trying to escape bullying.
Sometimes fixing a problem in the coop is enough to keep your chickens from getting out. That said, the answer is usually just that chickens are incorrigible and the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
(:1f414:) My chicken is still on the run after I cut off its wings. What should I do?
First, check that your bird's feathers have not grown back. If your chicken had to be molted, the feathers could have grown back fairly quickly.
If you only clip one wing, try both. Sometimes reducing the ability to lift chicks to the ground can be more effective than throwing them off balance.
Also check your house or run to see if the bird is jumping off anything to get over the fence. Trees, bushes, garden roofs, rubbish bins... chickens determined to escape will use almost anything to get them over the fence!
If your chicken still escapes after all this and you are sure it goes over the fence and not under or through it, consider installing a roof or taller fence.
Happy chicken team!
Rachael - Dine a Chook Australien
