{"id":9508,"date":"2021-07-08T06:55:54","date_gmt":"2021-07-08T06:55:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/?p=9508"},"modified":"2021-07-12T12:05:12","modified_gmt":"2021-07-12T12:05:12","slug":"how-to-clip-a-chickens-wings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/how-to-clip-a-chickens-wings\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Clip A Chicken\u2019s Wings?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The clipping of chicken wings is common practice for many owners. It is usually done to stop birds from flying away over fences or roosting in trees at night. In this article, we will be looking at how to clip a chicken’s wings safely and efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should I Clip My Chickens Wings?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"should<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If, for some reason, you need to limit your bird\u2019s ability to fly, then clipping their wings may be necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It could be you let them free-range in your backyard, but they keep flying over to your neighbors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problems associated with wing clipping are preventing your birds from their ability to evade predators by flying away and causing them damage through clipping the wings badly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many chicken breeds are almost unable to fly anyway, so clipping their wings would be completely unnecessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Should I Clip My Chickens Wings?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll need to clip your chicken\u2019s wings when they start to fly. But this can\u2019t happen until after they have stopped growing as their feathers still contain blood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once your chickens become adults, at around 22 to 28 weeks, you can check to make sure their wings are safe to cut by looking at the color of the quill. If it is clear or white then it has finished growing and is safe to cut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you see the quill is still a dark color then there is still blood nourishing it and you will need to wait a little longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quill color is much harder to see in birds with black feathers, so you may need to wait a little longer to be sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same thing can occur after your chickens have molted. Be sure that the feathers have grown back fully before clipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Cut Chicken Wings so They Can’t Fly<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"how<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To clip your chickens\u2019 wings, you\u2019ll first need to get hold of a bird. When picking them up, try to keep their wings folded against their sides to prevent them from flapping in your face or getting damaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can just pop the bird under your arm for calm and easy transportation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re going to clip your chicken’s wings, it\u2019s a good idea to give them the once over to check for any other problems such as signs of lice or mites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It may be easier to get someone to help you when it comes to wing clipping. This is how to do it in two easy steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Spread one wing out fully so you can clearly see the feathers. The really long, wide ones at the end of the wing are the primary flight feathers. These are the ones you\u2019re going to cut.<\/li>
  2. Take a sharp pair of scissors and follow the line of the primary flight feathers around in an arch an inch or so short of the next set of feathers growing above. You only need to cut the first 9 or 10 feathers, not the ones closer to the bird\u2019s body.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    To help you identify the right feathers to cut, watch this handy video and see how to clip your chicken’s wings simply and painlessly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=750NtdtUgWI<\/a>