Talk:Raising Chickens/Other information

Facts
Post your facts that don't fit anywhere else here. Klingoncowboy4 22:35, 28 July 2005 (UTC)

Smaller birds (Bantam vs Leghorn)survive bettor if left to roam free usually because they can fly much bettor and do not put on as much weight as they age.

Questions
Post any questions that don't fit anywhere else here. Klingoncowboy4 22:35, 28 July 2005 (UTC)

Just wondering what common injuries to chickens occur with small kids handling them? My chicken is unbalanced and weak?

Feathers could be pulled out. Wings injured. Mentally, it would probably not want to be handed in any way and fear small children.

How to trim chickens
Could someone put a bit in about trimming chicken's wings to stop them from flying over fences, etc.

Chickens don't fly too well generally and usually Cock birds only fly when trying to catch hens for some luuuurve, and hens only fly when trying to get away. We have much worse problems with Guinea Fowl that are good strong flyers. However that said clipping wings should be carried out pretty much the same as for any bird. Its a two person job to be safe. One of you needs to hold the bird securely and gently extend one wing fully. With some good sharp appropriate shears or scissors you need to cut the row of feathers that are furthest away from the leading edge of the wing. These are the long ones that the bird uses to control the flight. Start next to the body and work out cutting around half of the feather away. It doesn't hurt the bird, but it will look pretty p'd off about it. As you work out towards the tip of the wing you can leave the last few feathers in tact and it will then look OK when the wing is folded in. Usually the recommendation is to just clip one wing, the theory being that this destabilises the bird and discourages it from flying more than clipping both wings. We have to clip both wings on guinea fowl, I think they could still fly if you tied one wing behind their backs! You will need to learn from experience, it is a hands on job. If after you have clipped as described above the bird is still flying, try clipping a little more of the feather away. If still escaping try clipping both wings. Start with a little and work up to more, it will build your confidence, and you are less likely to doing anything that will damage your bird.

I wouldn't reccomend this in some areas though because predatory animals can usually catch them easier. I used to have a chicken that could fly from the ground to the top of a six foot cyclone fence. But it was half wild. If you don't want your totally domestic birds to fly off and the chicken run is secure clip away!