Free range chicken's are cool...but so is gardening. I love looking out the window while I'm doing the dishes and seeing those little chicken butts doing the cha cha in the garden. It looks so...natural.
But my garden borders are all screwed up, and we're going to be planting soon. So, those little fluffy dinosaurs have to quit flying out of their pen. It's also for their own safety. Our dogs are good with our chickens, but there's always coyotes and other predators around.
(the non-existent garden border)
(This is Oz. He's "working")
Another reason we don't want them free-ranging right now is because we want our chickens to work for us. Pay for their rent. And right now their job is to spread out all the straw from their winter bedding. Not flick my garden mulch all over the lawn.
(this is what they should be doing)
(this is what they should not be doing)
They will be moved out to their chicken tractor soon, and that will solve some of the boredom problem. But the real Houdinis are getting their wings clipped. There is no blood supply to these feathers so it's safe, easy and painless.
(getting familiar with their chicken tractor before they move out)
Meet Dorothy. She has a big ego and spends a lot of time on our deck...like a dog. Aww, I know, that's so cute. But she's a chicken, and some day I will probably eat her……….
(Hi I'm Dorothy. Woof. I need a haircut.)
ANYWAYS
Step 1: Catch your chicken.
Step 2: Calm them down.
Step 3: Expose the wing.
Step 4: Locate the primary feathers. These are the TEN long flight feathers on the outer part of the chicken's wing.
(primary feathers)
Step 5: Use sharp scissors and cut the long primary feathers. You'll cut up to the row of little feathers that overlap them. These little feathers are called the "flight coverts”.
(cutting just below the flight coverts)
Step 6: Give your chicken a high five and let them go.
(Shake it off girl. You look great.)
I hope you found this helpful!
For more, check out our Youtube video!
The end.
-Emily
Oh the joys of homesteading. I really hope your hairdressing efforts pay off @alexanderfarm! Our African chickens have ideas of their own when it comes to clipping wings. I think when they see the scissors they clap their flaps and whisper "Game ON!!!"
Hahaha! They catching part is definitely the hardest.
Loved this post! My gold laced wyandottes have been clipped, but they still can bloody jump high, the bastards. I spend a lot of time saying: WHAT THE FLIPPING HECK ARE YOU DOING IN THERE! ....AND... 'there better not be any chickens around here' and 'RAAAAAAR' as I chase them off myy plants.
Hahaha exactly! You get it!!
Wow! That was way more simple than I imagined. Although, I am guessing not all chickens are easy to catch. 😏
It's good exercise, trying!
LOL! I have a feeling it's in my future. 😅
It's so simple! Catching the chicken is the trickiest part 🤪
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Thanks for the tip, we might do it soon. You only need to do it on one side right?
I have a hen that just doesn't like to lay egg inside the coop or the fenced area, she has a spot next to the logs where she always go, and of course she jumps over the fence or god knows how hahaha.
Yes just one wing! Then they are unbalance and can’t fly. If she’s a really good flyer or jumper then you can also trim some of her secondary flight feathers as well.