does clipping wing feathers work?

[OldGuy43]

one wing it is. will have to wait for dh to get home from his little trip to Israel (blast his adventurous hide). I think that is going to be a two person job.

Good idea. Two people make it a lot easier.

 

[seedcorn]

If you have to do it by yourself, do it in the dark with a flashlight. Not hard as they will do their best to stay on perch.

 

[RidgebackRanch]

Agree, key is ONE wing. Do both they will fly or half fly and half climb out

I agree with Seedcorn. Our Blue Andalusians quickly figured out to fly up as high as they could and then use their feet to climb the rest of the way. Less heavy breeds can be rather independent, but ours would be back on the roost with everybody else in the evening. You may have to make a small concession with them if it is safe.

 

[catjac1975]

Hold them upside down by their feet and clip one wing close to the skin. It can be done by one this way. Cut the same wing on each one to keeps rack of the done birds.

 

[thistlebloom]

I just hold a hen in my left arm against my body, facing backwards ( the hen ), pull her wing out with my left hand and clip the feathers with sharp scissors with my right hand. Easy peasy. The only hard part is catching the skittish ones.
I had to add a 2 foot extension to the top of my pen because I had one hen that kept flying out even with a clipped wing.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Ive never clipped wings but it looks like plenty others with experience have helped on that. My comment is that juveniles go through two molts before they get their adults feathers. Then they should go through an annual molt as adults. Youll need to clip them before the first juvenile molt and after every serious molt.

 

[bj taylor]

about 7 out of the 12 are little roosters to be & so they have about 2 months left. I wouldn't mind so much except they are fixated on a rose I just transplanted. it now has rocks, bricks, upside down pots around it's base to keep them from digging it up every day. they've got 1 1/2 acre in the back yard, but noooooo.

I didn't consider the molt either.

 

[canesisters]

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-clip-trim-the-wings-of-your-chicken-to-prevent-flight

good article with picts

 

[Nyboy]

I don't clip wings because everyone likes chicken for diner. Flying at least gives chicken chance to escape.