Low-Flying Chickens!

Everyone knows that chickens can't fly, right?

Actually, you'd be surprised at how far these birds can go if they put their minds to it. A newly introduced hen may flap to the top of a three-yard high fence - especially the lighter breeds such as Leghorns and the various bantams.

The world record holder is a Japanese hen who managed to fly for 301 feet, over a 13 second solo flight. So, let's forget all this talk about chickens not being able to fly...

It's not only pigs that can fly!

The truth is that most hens stay grounded because they've had their wings clipped. It involves trimming the primary feathers on one of the bird's wings, making take-off a wobbly, unbalanced affair that ensures they stay grounded.

Only primary feathers should be trimmed, as these are the main feathers of flight. The others provide insulation. The trick is to cut the 'dead' ends of the feathers - the parts without blood vessels. Hold the feathers up to the light and you will see where the blood vessels start in the shafts of the feathers.

As a rule, the snip should be no more than 2.5 inches from the feather tip. If in any doubt, get an experienced wing clipper to show you how it's done.

Watch our tutorial on clipping chickens wings by clicking here.

One thing to be aware of is the fact that the primary feathers regrow with each molt. So be sure to clip the wings again each time after molting.