Author Topic: Escapees (Read 4907 times)

Helencus · « **on:** January 26, 2011, 09:05:49 pm »

Hi I've clipped my girls wings to stop them escaping or so I thought! 3 still keep flying over the electric netting. I only clipped 1 wing as advised should I clip shorter? Any suggestions as Charlie has had 1 and I don't want to give him lunch again!

doganjo · « **Reply #1 on:** January 26, 2011, 09:16:43 pm »

I have the same problem - they don't so much fly as jump onto the fence then down the other side. It's mainly the youngsters that do it and its a damned nuisance as I have to check before letting the dogs out!

darkbrowneggs · « **Reply #2 on:** January 26, 2011, 09:52:57 pm »

Mine are rarely a problem as they are not a flighty breed, but apparently it is best to clip one wing before they discover they can escape by flying - I know this advice is probably a bit late, but it might help with birds you have in the future

What I do find can work, with any bird or animal, is give them a good chasing and shouting at when they get out, so they get the message they have a nicer time when they are in. Of course if the "grass on the other side of the fence" is that much nicer than what is available in their bit you may be onto a losing battle

All the best
Sue

ambriel · « **Reply #3 on:** January 27, 2011, 12:54:15 am »

Ours were a bit of a pain for taking themselves for walks when we first got them.

We clipped one wing initially but this didn't seem to stop them so we did the other, too. That worked.

It's been about six months now so I expect the feathers have grown back but they haven't shown much inclination to roam - maybe forgot they can fly - except for one.

We've recently acquired a cockerel but there's no way I'm going to try and clip that fiesty bugger!

plumseverywhere · « **Reply #4 on:** January 27, 2011, 08:34:42 am »

Mine are little toads! only 4 or 5 in particular. they have one wing clipped but still manage to get out. one in particular walks round the garden, in and out of the goat feed buckets looking for dropped feed, down to our kitchen door to have a tap and ask for scraps...
I wish I had solutions, had tried a few things and it is a worry now foxy knows where the nearest chicken takeaway is

daddymatty82 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 27, 2011, 12:18:04 pm »

i dont clip wings no more as it gives them more chance from charley . i found chooks can jump very high anyway so when i clipped a wing that did not stop them but then its what free range is all about aint it? mine are penned up with pea netting over top of pen and the still get out and get back in as and when they please.

Helencus · « **Reply #6 on:** January 27, 2011, 01:33:10 pm »

Problem is these birds were free range til charley found out now I'm trying to keep them in. All but 3 stay in with clipped wings but last night I was out hunting for them in the dark. I found them but I forsee a sticky end for them. I've trimmed them again and done a bit of the other wing let's see if that does it.. I suspect maybe not!

daddymatty82 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 27, 2011, 02:29:21 pm »

i found if they want out they will get out so hope you done the trick good luck

northfifeduckling · « **Reply #8 on:** January 27, 2011, 06:47:20 pm »

mine have no clipped wings and the fence is not that high - had only the cockerel trying it out once. They were all so upset that none tried it again, lol

dyedinthewool · « **Reply #9 on:** January 27, 2011, 07:16:14 pm »

Quote from: darkbrowneggs on January 26, 2011, 09:52:57 pm

Mine are rarely a problem as they are not a flighty breed, but apparently it is best to clip one wing before they discover they can escape by flying - I know this advice is probably a bit late, but it might help with birds you have in the future

What I do find can work, with any bird or animal, is give them a good chasing and shouting at when they get out, so they get the message they have a nicer time when they are in. Of course if the "grass on the other side of the fence" is that much nicer than what is available in their bit you may be onto a losing battle

All the best
Sue

We now only have to shout 'go back' (even OH from up on the scaffolding) and they all troop back through the gate or jump back from the garden over the ditch (not always got water in) and into their own pens. We have a railwaysleeper bridge over the ditch from the garden to the hen paddock I've had to pheasant net it on the sides and under the sleeper to stop the little so and so's from tracking either over the bridge or jumping onto the bridge from in the ditch.

Helencus · « **Reply #10 on:** January 27, 2011, 08:15:26 pm »

Seems to have done the trick they were all in still tonight so fingers crossed!

doganjo · « **Reply #11 on:** January 27, 2011, 08:28:46 pm »

My two daft LS youngsters got the frights of their lives today - jumped the fence and I didn't notice the gate to the front paddock was open when I let the dogs out (workmen are a damned nuisance sometimes

One took off into the air but was 'plucked' as she lifted but flew down into the run.(A damned lot more than the supposed 9 seconds maximum flight, I can tell you!

) The other one chose to run first, then fly, and was caught when she got trapped in an alleyway. I ran down, pushed off Bobby and his Mum, grabbed the hen and threw her over the fence. When I went back a couple of hours later I found she had a bite wound between her shoulders so poured some TCP on it then sprayed with elastoplast. So I hope that a) the one that got caught is Ok tomorrow and b) they've learned their lesson

Helencus · « **Reply #12 on:** January 27, 2011, 08:41:21 pm »

I hope so too Annie, theyre a worry aren't they! My OH was going mad running round after mine every eve so a relief they stayed in today.

daddymatty82 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 27, 2011, 09:47:59 pm »

well i had another of my bantams killed by charley i soo need a trap now lol my next pen will be made of heras fence so there will be no chance of them getting out or them