The backyard chickens many people keep are distant relatives of the junglefowl still found in the wild in parts of Asia. In the wild, junglefowl behave like most other birds by perching and roosting in trees. And just like other birds, they’re able to fly to escape predators. When a wild junglefowl is foraging for food on the ground, it will quickly take flight if alarmed. While that’s all well and good, what about domestic chickens we keep in our backyards? Can they fly? The answer is yes, many backyard chickens can fly, but not very high or far. There are many chicken breeds that can fly and there are some that can’t. Just don’t expect to see a chicken flying high in the sky like a crow or another bird because it just doesn’t happen.
Which Domestic Chickens Can Fly? The ability of a chicken to take flight is typically determined by the breed type. Heavy breeds like Wyandottes may be able to fly, but they only get a few inches off the ground and don’t get very far. This breed’s wings simply aren’t built to give the chickens the lifting power it needs for the size of its body. The types of chickens that can take flight include:
Anconas
Leghorns
Araucanas
Red Rangers
Spitzhaubens
Bantams
Breeds that don’t fly very well include Silkies, Orpingtons, Plymouth Rocks, and Australorps. The feathers of Silkie chickens are like the fluffy down on chicks, which aren’t conducive to flying. Breeds like the Orpingtons and Plymouth Rocks are simply too heavy to fly, at least very far. While a heavy chicken may lift itself up and off the ground using its wings, it never truly takes flight due to the bird’s weight. Image Credit: DuyCuong1080, Pixabay Why Many Chickens Aren’t Good Flyers Many chickens are not good flyers because they have round bodies with high-set wings. Others weigh in at between 6 to 10 pounds and have broad wingspans of several feet, making them too heavy and awkward to fly. And considering that chickens feed on the ground, their feet are more adapted for walking and perching than their bodies and wings are designed for flying. Many chickens escape from predators by flapping their wings and lifting themselves off the ground while using their feet to get away. They’ll often jump up on a perch or something else off the ground to get themselves out of harm’s way. The Best Flyers are Bantams Bantams are the best flyers of all the different breeds of domestic chickens. These small and lightweight chickens can easily fly over the tops of fences so you must make sure to secure them well if you plan on having a flock. Image Credit: Jeannette1980, Pixabay What Prompts a Chicken to Fly? Many things may prompt a chicken to fly including:
Predators – A chicken will flap its wings and fly away when it feels threatened.
Curiosity – Chickens are naturally curious and like to investigate new things.
Mating – A rooster going after a hen will prompt it to fly.
Snow – Many breeds of chicken dislike snow and will fly away if faced with the cold white stuff.
Avoidance – Many chickens will fly away to avoid conflicts and fights.
Chickens Can Fly Several Feet High in the Air Many backyard chickens can fly 4 to 6 feet in the air if they’re determined enough. This means if you plan on putting a fence around your chicken coop, make it a tall one that’s at least 5 feet tall. It’s important to know that if chickens are given a large, fenced area, they’re less inclined to fly over the fence to escape. When your chickens feel secure in their fenced area, they’ll likely stay put and feel right at home. If you keep small breeds or breeds prone to flying, add a bit of height to your fence or clip the chicken’s wings as an additional precaution. Chickens with Clipped Wings Can’t Fly High Chickens with properly clipped wings cannot typically fly higher than 2 to 3 feet off the ground. Some people clip the primary flight feathers on one wing only and find that’s enough. Others opt to clip both wings, which ensures that a chicken stays grounded. A chicken with both wings clipped will quickly learn that it cannot take flight and will adjust accordingly. How to Clip a Chicken’s Wings Clipping a chicken’s wings is easy as all you need is a pair of scissors and a steady hand. Simply get a good grasp of the bird and stretch its wing out so you can see the primary flight feathers that are the largest feathers that form the tip of the wing. Cut along the top of the secondary feathers you can see about halfway over the primary feathers. You only need to clip away a few inches of the primary feathers and you’re done. And don’t worry that you’ll hurt the chicken because it won’t feel anything other than a little stress from being handled.
Conclusion Contrary to what many people believe, some chickens can fly and escape. How high your chickens can fly depends on the breed you keep. At most, a chicken can reach a height of around 6 feet when in flight. If you don’t want your chickens flying away, either put in a tall fence or clip their wings to keep them safely grounded.
Featured Image Credit: TTstudio, Shutterstock
The backyard chickens many people keep are distant relatives of the junglefowl still found in the wild in parts of Asia. In the wild, junglefowl behave like most other birds by perching and roosting in trees. And just like other birds, they’re able to fly to escape predators. When a wild junglefowl is foraging for food on the ground, it will quickly take flight if alarmed.
While that’s all well and good, what about domestic chickens we keep in our backyards? Can they fly? The answer is yes, many backyard chickens can fly, but not very high or far. There are many chicken breeds that can fly and there are some that can’t. Just don’t expect to see a chicken flying high in the sky like a crow or another bird because it just doesn’t happen.
Which Domestic Chickens Can Fly?
The ability of a chicken to take flight is typically determined by the breed type. Heavy breeds like Wyandottes may be able to fly, but they only get a few inches off the ground and don’t get very far. This breed’s wings simply aren’t built to give the chickens the lifting power it needs for the size of its body.
The types of chickens that can take flight include:
Anconas
Leghorns
Araucanas
Red Rangers
Spitzhaubens
Bantams
Breeds that don’t fly very well include Silkies, Orpingtons, Plymouth Rocks, and Australorps. The feathers of Silkie chickens are like the fluffy down on chicks, which aren’t conducive to flying.
Anconas
Leghorns
Araucanas
Red Rangers
Spitzhaubens
Bantams
- Anconas
- Leghorns
- Araucanas
- Red Rangers
- Spitzhaubens
- Bantams
Breeds like the Orpingtons and Plymouth Rocks are simply too heavy to fly, at least very far. While a heavy chicken may lift itself up and off the ground using its wings, it never truly takes flight due to the bird’s weight.
Why Many Chickens Aren’t Good Flyers
Many chickens are not good flyers because they have round bodies with high-set wings. Others weigh in at between 6 to 10 pounds and have broad wingspans of several feet, making them too heavy and awkward to fly. And considering that chickens feed on the ground, their feet are more adapted for walking and perching than their bodies and wings are designed for flying.
Many chickens escape from predators by flapping their wings and lifting themselves off the ground while using their feet to get away. They’ll often jump up on a perch or something else off the ground to get themselves out of harm’s way.
The Best Flyers are Bantams
Bantams are the best flyers of all the different breeds of domestic chickens. These small and lightweight chickens can easily fly over the tops of fences so you must make sure to secure them well if you plan on having a flock.
What Prompts a Chicken to Fly?
Many things may prompt a chicken to fly including:
Predators – A chicken will flap its wings and fly away when it feels threatened.
Curiosity – Chickens are naturally curious and like to investigate new things.
Mating – A rooster going after a hen will prompt it to fly.
Snow – Many breeds of chicken dislike snow and will fly away if faced with the cold white stuff.
Avoidance – Many chickens will fly away to avoid conflicts and fights.
Chickens Can Fly Several Feet High in the Air
Many backyard chickens can fly 4 to 6 feet in the air if they’re determined enough. This means if you plan on putting a fence around your chicken coop, make it a tall one that’s at least 5 feet tall.
Predators – A chicken will flap its wings and fly away when it feels threatened.
Curiosity – Chickens are naturally curious and like to investigate new things.
Mating – A rooster going after a hen will prompt it to fly.
Snow – Many breeds of chicken dislike snow and will fly away if faced with the cold white stuff.
Avoidance – Many chickens will fly away to avoid conflicts and fights.
- Predators – A chicken will flap its wings and fly away when it feels threatened.
- Curiosity – Chickens are naturally curious and like to investigate new things.
- Mating – A rooster going after a hen will prompt it to fly.
- Snow – Many breeds of chicken dislike snow and will fly away if faced with the cold white stuff.
- Avoidance – Many chickens will fly away to avoid conflicts and fights.
It’s important to know that if chickens are given a large, fenced area, they’re less inclined to fly over the fence to escape. When your chickens feel secure in their fenced area, they’ll likely stay put and feel right at home. If you keep small breeds or breeds prone to flying, add a bit of height to your fence or clip the chicken’s wings as an additional precaution.
Chickens with Clipped Wings Can’t Fly High
Chickens with properly clipped wings cannot typically fly higher than 2 to 3 feet off the ground. Some people clip the primary flight feathers on one wing only and find that’s enough. Others opt to clip both wings, which ensures that a chicken stays grounded. A chicken with both wings clipped will quickly learn that it cannot take flight and will adjust accordingly.
How to Clip a Chicken’s Wings
Clipping a chicken’s wings is easy as all you need is a pair of scissors and a steady hand. Simply get a good grasp of the bird and stretch its wing out so you can see the primary flight feathers that are the largest feathers that form the tip of the wing.
Cut along the top of the secondary feathers you can see about halfway over the primary feathers. You only need to clip away a few inches of the primary feathers and you’re done. And don’t worry that you’ll hurt the chicken because it won’t feel anything other than a little stress from being handled.
Conclusion
Contrary to what many people believe, some chickens can fly and escape. How high your chickens can fly depends on the breed you keep. At most, a chicken can reach a height of around 6 feet when in flight. If you don’t want your chickens flying away, either put in a tall fence or clip their wings to keep them safely grounded.
Featured Image Credit: TTstudio, Shutterstock
