Can someone please tell me at what age we should clip our chicks wings? I had no idea chickens could fly to the tops of trees! Just read that in another post here. Our new (and first ever!) chicks are just now 2 weeks old.

Thanks!

-- cindy jordan (cjschutz@attbi.com), April 25, 2002

Answers

If you do it just as soon as they start trying to fly - and only clip one wing - they will soon get discouraged, and think they can't fly at all, and will stop trying. You do have to reclip pretty often as they're growing, then just once or twice a year when they're grown.

-- Cheryl in KS (klingonbunny@planetkc.com), April 25, 2002.

I would avoid clipping wings. A chicken unable to use it's wings is easy dinner.

If you're worried they'll roost in nearby trees at night, keep your darlings in their coop until they're a few months old. they'll learn that not only is that the place to eat/drink, but also to roost. first time you let them out, do it an hour before sundown, then coax them back inside with a treat (likely they'll go back inside without the treat). gradually, increase their time out before sundown.

You may have 1 or 2 rebellious ones, but i feel positive most all will prefer their home to roost and you won't have to worry about cutting their wings making them an easy target for the neighbor's dog/cat, coyote, fox, weasel, skunk, coon, opossom, hawk, owl, etc.

-- Buk (buk@noaddy.com), April 25, 2002.