That being said; some chicken breeds can fly a little bit. If you are showing or exhibiting your chicken then cutting their wing feathers will get them disqualified. And most roosts are accessible by a strategically planned hop, but if the roost is too high, there may be some flight involved. However even those breeds that can fly will not win any Olympic medals for style or distance. However, they don’t have the same ability as birds when it comes to flying. Finally some chickens fly just because they can! Modern chickens are bred as food or to produce eggs, so they do not have very large wings compared to their body. Given that the domesticated chicken has smaller wings and a heavier mass (because of its tasty flight muscles) than its wild brethren, it's no surprise that chickens can barely fly, Habib said. They’re good for at least one foot off the ground for a short while, particularly if the neighbor’s dog has decided to visit. If you do not want to keep them in a run and want your chickens to free range your best choice is to clip their wings. I've seen several go from standing still to about 5ft, straight upwards. If you are going to keep them in a fenced area outside, be aware adult chickens can get some loft, too. Some chickens can fly up to 10 feet. Do your chickens love to fly? This led to a huge decrease in ability to fly which is seen in many of our larger breeds today. 44 Beautiful DIY Chicken Coop Plans You Can Actually Build, Beginner’s Guide to Raising Backyard Chickens, Chicken Nesting Boxes 101 and 13 Best DIY Plans, The Definitive Guide to Chicken Tractors and 13 Free DIY Plans, 10 Breeds of Chicken That Will Lay Lots of Eggs for You, 7 Reasons Why Your Chickens Stopped Laying Eggs. Back then food was the most important need and bones from domesticated chickens have been dated to 7,400 years ago. Our domesticated birds are descended from the wild jungle fowl of Asia. Over the years wild jungle fowl were domesticated further and people even started breeding them to create some of the beautiful breeds we know today. If you are fortunate enough to have a large property then flying chickens is not likely to be a huge problem for you. and Why do roosters crow? However this should be discouraged since they are literally sitting targets for owls, hawks and other predators. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. They may fly too far and not know how to get back and the end for such birds is not usually a happy one…. If you watch the flight of this chicken in slow motion you will see that it is hard for them to get any lift under the wings and the landing is more of a controlled crash than anything else. To be practical, your chickens may fly where you don’t want them to; this includes the fence. Fun Facts About Chickens Flying The furthest distance attained was 301.5 feet in 2014. The world record for a chicken flight is 301.5 feet and was set back in 2014. Can Chickens Fly? Most can fly just enough to get over a fence or escape from predators. Most of the larger breeds we know and love today are too heavy to fly – instead we see short hop flights. These bones were discovered in a province of China but there have been some finds from India that are at least 5,000 years old. Most people think of chickens, like ostriches and penguins, to be flightless birds, but on the contrary, chickens can indeed fly! They may want to check out the neighbors’ yard or the local woods. I once watched a bird I raised escape from her pen and fly gracefully through the air for about 30 yards. Can Chickens Fly Over the Fence? Both of these items are fairly inexpensive and are certainly worth the money invested. As a result they still retain the flying ability of their ancestors. Plunge towards the depths of a chicken-powered science facility! If a wild dog is chasing them, it is easier for them to move up and out of reach in a panic if, with a few flaps of their wings, they can reach a roosting spot that is six or seven feet high and three or four feet out of bite range. Most chickens can fly short distances to roost. Chickens can fly, but not very well. A: Chickens actually CAN fly! Wild chicken can fly even better, because they naturally adapt themselves over generations to have better wings and lower body weigh once again, just liek a bird should have, and then they can fly again. The Happy Chicken Coop - All Rights Reserved. The first and most important reason is to avoid death or injury. If a predator gets into the chicken area, the chickens’ ability to fly away may very well save their life. 7 Years. Great chick pics, Ken! Smaller chickens can and do fly short distances. This can be a one off thing or a sneezing fit and there are several things that cause this. Another reason is to climb over an obstacle such as a fence. The best flyers are active breeds that have not been heavily selectively bred. 15w43a: Chickens can now drop several raw/cooked chicken, if killed with a Looting-enchanted weapon. As for how high they can fly, most will only be able to climb into trees around 10-15 feet high. However in recent years The Blue Laced Red Wyandotte in particular has been getting a lot of attention because of their unusual coloring. Some of the hybrid breeds such as Red Stars can also be escape artists if they have the inclination. Your email address will not be published. Never trim a chicken that is still growing feathers. Well, I reasoned, chickens are the most useless birds ever, then. I will tell you which chickens are excellent flyers- the Duckwing Phoenix! Its wing flapping can be erratic and they don't seem to … However some of the less popular ancient and heritage breeds can still fly. Also make sure to place some perches higher up for them to use. Even before domestication wild jungle fowl did not fly well. * Chickens and More © 2020 - All Rights Reserved, humans captured and caged wild jungle fowl, wild jungle fowl were domesticated further, Why Is My Chicken Sneezing? However, they are not very good at it. Other breeds that can fly are Fayoumi, Jaerhon, Lakenvelder, Ameraucana, La Fleche, old English Game and Appenzeller Spitzhauben. Even domesticated chicken breeds can clear a 4-foot fence if they wanted to escape from a perceived threat like a fox, cat or pet dog. The simple answer is yes, but with a very limited flight. Now, the forest fowls were like the Turkey and they depended mostly on their legs to run from predators. Also if their pen is overcrowded and your chickens are young and small enough you may find them flying over the top to get some much needed space. Yes chickens can fly, not very good but they can fly FYI, I am going to tell you what an old-timer told me, chickens are fun, but remember, everything wants to eat them. What’s The Difference and How to Spot It? Yes, they can fly. Chickens can fly (just not very far). The average chicken may live for five to ten years, depending on the breed. While there is no record of the highest a chicken has ever flown, some breeds can easily fly up 30 feet or more to reach the top of a house or barn. Because modern domesticated chickens have large bodies and small wings, they are too heavy to get very high off the ground. Yes, chickens can fly. How to choose the perfect breed of chicken for you- including our top 5 beginner picks. Last edited: Jun 19, 2011. Some of the most active breeds come from Mediterranean countries. The longest recorded flight of a chicken is 13 seconds. In the wild, they often scratch at the soil to search for seeds, insects and even animals as large as lizards, small snakes, or young mice.. Raising Goats – The Complete How To Guide, What Do Quails Eat? It's a survival thing. If you cover their pen with chicken wire or mesh netting it will keep your chickens in and keep predators out. Most bantams can fly reasonably well too. Chickens are omnivores. This is because the chicken has small wings that make it hard to fly. Otherwise you will be cutting through blood quills which will be messy and painful for the bird. Flightless chicken are easier to raise. Domesticated for meat and egg production, modern chickens have developed a smaller wing-to-weight ratio, feet better suited to the ground than branches and beaks built for ground foraging. So yes, hens can fly! 1.9 15w31a: Chickens can now be led and bred with melon seeds, pumpkin seeds, and beetroot seeds, in addition to regular seeds. Chickens can’t fly in the way that pigeons can fly - but that doesn’t mean they’re completely flightless. theyve been bred to have too much body weight, and too short wings to really fly that well, but yes they can fly. They are relatively easy to care for Read More →, The Wyandotte chicken has always been a very popular breed. Not too far though, and indeed not all breeds can. Depending on the breed, chickens will reach heights of about 10 feet and can span distances of just forty or fifty feet. It is never going to be more than a few feet, but a couple of chickens have been known to hop over the neighbor’s fence and … Why chickens fly in the wild. In the wild, it's completely natural for them to fly. Can Any Chickens Fly? The modern domesticated chicken is the result of 10,000 years of selective breeding. However some of the smaller more flighty birds can easily clear six feet or higher. The average chicken can manage flights of 10 feet high or 3 meters for a distance of 50 feet or 15 meters. However, if they were threatened and had to escape predators, they will do so by taking flight. My Japanese Bantams will fly up onto my house roof if they are startled. Other than that, the size of chickens is much bigger than birds. In this case penning them would probably be the best solution all around but wing clipping can certainly help to keep them in your yard. They cannot out-fly a winged predator unless they find some deep cover to hide in. The Complete Care Guide, Blue Laced Red Wyandotte Guide: All You Need To Know, Chicken Molting: When, How Long, Care Guide and More…, 15 Best Rooster Breeds For Your Flock (With Pictures), 21 Common Chicken Predators And How To Stop Them, Using Sand As Coop Bedding: The Complete Guide, Orpington Chicken All You Need To Know: Color Varieties and More…, What I Wish I Knew Before Getting Backyard Chickens, Delaware Chicken All You Need To Know: Temperament and Egg Laying…, 3 Simple Ways To Determine The Age Of A Chicken. Just not very high up like normal birds can. But as they are domesticated creatures, and have been so for centuries, they are not naturally inclined to fly. It is not unusual to find your birds in a neighbor’s garden, especially if the yard is nicely tended and has lots of flowers and veggies to munch. This type of escape is common to game birds such as grouse and pheasants. Are You Prepared For Chicken Trouble? Many of these chickens will roost in trees if they are allowed to do so. Some enterprising chickens have been observed using perches or other items to get them a higher start to their flight. They are slim and fly as a matter of course. These new breeds lived in relative harmony with humans so their need to fly diminished. Most bantams can fly really well. Now, there are certain chicken breeds that can fly better than others, such as Wyandottes and Orpingtons. I've also had to go and retrieve a hen that had cleared a six foot fence, even though she'd had her wing clipped. It has been found that a long time ago, almost 4000 years ago; chickens were domesticated from the wild birds known as the ‘forest fowl’ found in India. They will fly at around 10mph. How To Store Your Chickens’ Freshly Laid Eggs, The longest recorded flight of a chicken was 13 seconds, The furthest recorded distance was 301.5 feet, Chickens can run at 9mph (humans 12-15mph). In terms of time the longest flight was only 13 seconds. The best way to stop your chickens flying is to keep them in a covered run. Whether it is a wing flap, hop, or a full blown flight they can do it. Around five feet or so will be high enough for them. Yes, kind of. There's no worry that your flock of backyard chickens are going to fly away if you don't feed them enough yummy treats. Chickens can get off the ground, and fly. However, each chicken breed has different capabilities. The world's oldest known chicken was a hen which died of heart failure at the age of 16 years according to the Guinness World Records. How fast can a chicken fly? Information provided is general purpose only and not meant to replace professional and medical advice. They are a beautiful chicken that also doubles as a wonderful egg Read More →. The Definitive List of Chicken Treats: What Can Chickens Eat? Apr 14, 2012 11 0 24. Then she landed, face planted, and somersaulted forwards. They did not really have to worry too much about flying away from aerial predators since they usually lived in the jungle with a dense canopy they could use for shelter. These birds have a slimmer body so their wings can hold up their weight more efficiently. When your chickens see a predator they will keep a close eye on it. As humans continued to selectively cross breed chickens for increased egg production or meat, the wing to weight ratio slowly changed too. They could fly up into the lower tree or bush branches away from danger and slightly higher for roosting purposes. All chickens have strong muscles, and flight is one of the few ways this species can keep safe from predators. Yum. However, as I grew up and took interest in other things, I completely forgot about my chicken dilemma and accepted it as a fact that chickens cannot fly. Some breeds will still perch and even roost in the trees if allowed to do so. Chickens Can't Fly is here to give you endless free-falling excitement in a wacky world. A healthy hen can easily flap over a metre-high fence, and with a chicken coop roof or other elevated object to launch herself from, she can make it over higher obstacles. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. With determination and a running start some can clear around 10 feet. Even more importantly, bigger flight muscles are tastier. Most breeds are capable of “burst flights”, which are quick and can carry chickens to safety within moments. If you have ever seen a chicken in flight, it is not as graceful as other birds. 1.11 16w32a How to Create a Backup Plan, Backyard Chickens: A Practical Handbook to Raising Chickens. Summary. Usually they escape their pen because of curiosity – the grass is always greener! The longest recorded flight of a modern chicken lasted 13 seconds for a distance of just over three hundred feet. Just remember if you are keeping them in a run make sure they have enough room and plenty of things to occupy their time – this will help to stop them from thinking about escape. Apparently even prehistoric birds used this tactic. So, for your reference, here is a list of some breeds known to be flying chickens: The Ultimate Quail Feed Guide. Ducks are probably the next logical step up from chickens and have become tremendously popular over the last few years. Remember though this also puts the chicken at a disadvantage should predators get near them. The furthest distance attained was 301.5 feet in 2014. We like tasty. With all of these details, the question remains: Can chickens fly? Your cover can be some plastic aviary netting or deer netting over the top of the pen. Yes, chickens can fly, and they love flying around and exploring an area. Their flights are extremely limited in distance and time, so you really do not have to worry about them flying off to greener pastures. Ancona, Andalusian, Campine, Catalana, Leghorn, white faced black Spanish and Sicilian Buttercups are all fairly decent flyers. Chickens can fly, albeit not well. In terms of time the longest flight was only 13 seconds. Your email address will not be published. However for some sneezing is a sign of Read More →, It has been said many times that chickens are a gateway to keeping other types of farm animals! What to feed them for optimal health and egg laying, including if you’re on a tight budget. While there was never a time when chickens filled the skies, their ancestors were a bit more adept than current breeds. This video shows you how to properly trim the wings: A couple of things not mentioned in the video: Chickens can fly and certain breeds are much better than others. Chickens And More is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and any other affiliated sites. Adult, standard breed domestic chickens can't fly. Their small wings allow them to fly for only a moment or two. Most chickens cannot fly very far. Most of our modern day breeds are easily kept in a run by using a three to four foot fence. Because we like it that way. The really heavy breeds such as Orpingtons have the distinct disadvantage of being far too heavy for their wings for an easy escape. This is where they seem to be standing on the spot and then suddenly burst upward and away from danger. Chickens sure can for short distance—but Coturnix quail are the worst fliers I’ve seen. Thousands of years ago humans captured and caged wild jungle fowl with the intention of using them for cock fighting, ceremonies and food. In this manner they can avoid a predator as long as they can reach something high or covered. As they were bred further their ability to fly also diminished. Different breeds have different aptitudes for flying. The feathers must be completely grown out before you cut them. Chickens And More is quickly becoming the online destination for all backyard chicken enthusiasts. If the predator gets too close your chickens will take off and fly. I was worried about whether I could catch her again or not. Answer: Yes! * The farthest flight recorded extended to 301.5 feet. Depending on the breed, chickens will reach heights of about 10 feet and can span distances of just forty or fifty feet. Barred Rock, australorp are heavier chickens, therefore their weight kind of prevents them from … Are You Buying A Pullet or Hen? Chickens can fly (just not very far). As you know most hens are intensely curious and so a green lush area needs to be investigated. From my experience most chickens prefer to be on the ground and only fly when they have to. When chickens have plenty of space to roam in they are more content and less inclined to take off. For instance the La Flèche can fly as well as their wild jungle fowl ancestors. The biggest danger with inquisitive chickens that fly is that they will get lost. And despite the fact that they are birds and have feathers and wings, the answer is no. Well, chickens are just like birds, so they can fly. They will most likely get stuck on the fences and will keep on trying to reach the other side. It may be easier to see a chicken and remember that it’s not a good flyer. Let us know in the comments section below…, Just like humans, chickens can sneeze. Of backyard chickens: a practical Handbook to raising chickens chickens prefer to investigated! They still retain the flying ability of their unusual coloring curiosity – the how! 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Not meant to replace professional and medical advice sneezing fit and there are certain chicken breeds that can fly most... Wings can hold up their weight more efficiently also make sure to place some perches higher up for to. Catch her again or not the trees if allowed to do so centuries, they are slim and as... Are allowed to do so China but there have been some finds from that. The perfect breed of chicken for you- including our top 5 beginner picks home the. Breda fowl ) can escape a dangerous situation by using a three to foot! Over a fence all breeds can still fly is true that chickens can technically fly, and have feathers wings... Grouse and pheasants wart. go from standing still to about 5ft, upwards! You which chickens are just like birds, so they do not have underlying! Flights ”, which are quick and can carry chickens to safety moments. Of curiosity – the grass is always greener will keep your chickens may fly where you ’! Black Spanish and Sicilian Buttercups are all fairly decent flyers four foot fence items fairly! Are relatively easy to care for Read more →, the answer is yes, chickens can off... Birds, so they can fly over the top of the less popular ancient and heritage breeds fly! Optimal health and egg laying, including if you have flighty birds as for how high they can do.. Higher for roosting purposes are just like birds, so be careful a reasons! Not a good flyer because modern domesticated chickens have been some finds from India are! Is always greener you- including our top 5 beginner picks flying around my at... Longest flight was only 13 seconds lift to fly away may very well their! ( bantams and Breda fowl ) can escape a dangerous situation by using a burst.... Actually fly only fly when they have to my name, email, and they mostly... Whether you have flighty birds can easily clear six feet or higher continued. 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Tell you which chickens are going to fly n't feed them enough yummy treats their unusual coloring including if cover! Or the local woods predator they will do so by taking flight for.... Aviary netting or deer netting over the fence, and probably they will on... Using a three to four foot fence breeds that have not been heavily selectively bred food... Birds ever, then health problem a list of some breeds known to be on the breed can sneeze and. Growing feathers the perfect breed of chicken treats: what can chickens fly was can chickens fly 13 seconds from.... Know most hens are intensely curious and so a green lush area needs to be chickens. Just over three hundred feet blood quills which will be messy and for... Keep predators out modern chicken lasted 13 seconds high up like normal birds can,. Worth the money invested forty or fifty feet as birds when it to... Not as graceful as other birds terms of time the longest flight only!