“How high can chickens fly?” is a frequently asked question when you are trying to bring up a flock and not lose any to the streets. Knowing the height your chickens can go will allow you to build safe-keeping grounds in case they want to fly from your grasp. Scroll down to read more!
Can Chickens Fly?
For anything with wings to fly, they will need to have “wing loading” – a ratio of body mass to wing area. That is why the fact that a bee can fly fascinates aerodynamicists so much since its body is too heavy for its wings to take it up into the air.
The chicken does not have that privilege, but they are not entirely flightless either. The fact that they do not fly too well is partly our fault since we bred them so selectively that we can yield bigger and meatier chickens. Over time, chickens become larger when their wings shrink.
Hefty chickens like the Orpington or Plymouth Rock are especially bad at taking flights. Breeds that are slightly smaller in their frames, such as the Leghorn, Hamburg (not to be confused with the fast-food), and Redcap (and most of any bantam breeds), are definitely better but they will not fly like typical birds. Watch these chickens, and you will know, “how high can chickens fly?”
How High Can Chickens Fly?
When frightened, some chickens can fly up to 1,2 meters to evade dangers. There have been cases where people see chickens jump over near 2 meters fences. These types of flights are called “burst flights”, and they are a part of a fowl’s defense tactics. By making big leaps like this, they will get away from danger immediately.
You may find this fascinating: Chickens might be able to reach a certain height, but they cannot go very far. The chicken flight record is 13 continuous seconds, covering around 90 meters in the distance. They also do not fly very fast, so even if your chickens run from you, you will be able to grab hold of the runaway poultry.
How High Can Chickens Fly With Clipped Wings?
Most chickens will not fly when they are in safe cages and have enough to eat and drink. However, if you want to eliminate the possibility of flight in chickens completely, you can always opt to clip their wings. That way, you will never have to worry about the answer to “how high can chickens fly?” ever again.
Snipping off their flight feathers might be a good idea to prevent most hens from flying. When their special feathers are taken away, they will only be able to lift their bodies a few inches off the ground. You should only do this as a last resort, as feather clipping robs a chicken of all its escape routes aside from running on its feet.
Can Chickens Fly Over Fences?
The definite answer is “Yes”. There are many factors that force your chicken into using their flight to get over their fences, even with your notion that your range is danger-free. Here is how you can check if your farm is what the chickens are running away from:
- Your free-range chicken flock has a small or worn-out pasture area. This motivates the chicken to escape the bounds and find new lands to pick food from.
- Your farm is stressing your chickens out. This can be caused by the overwhelming ratio of roosters to hens or dominant hens to docile ones. The majority faction will try to hoard all the food and cages, and the minority will run away from the mass.
- The number of nest boxes does not match your flock. Your hens will fight each other for places to lay their eggs, so it can cause them to fly to other locations to look for nests.
- There is not enough food and drinks for your chickens to share with one another.
What Should You Do When Your Chickens Fly?
Here are a few things you should do when your chickens start to try to escape the coop you build for them.
- Keep your chickens well-fed and hydrated: Planning out different areas so your flock can break up among themselves to feed. They will be able to have enough all to themselves and will not have to look for nourishments anywhere else.
- Provide higher perches and a stress-free environment: High perches prevent nocturnal predators from visiting and scare your poultries while they sleep. Stress-free environments stop your chickens from even thinking of leaving your range.
That’s how you will be able to rest assured not knowing “how high can chickens fly?”.
Final Note
In the end, chickens can fly and will fly under the circumstances that they are threatened by their environment. Aside from enforcing your fences and cages, if your chicken jumps often, you need to look into why they feel afraid enough that they need to take flight. Only then will you never have to worry about “How high can chickens fly?” again!
