Chickens keep flying out and roaming

So we're new to chickens and using a mobile coop and electric netting to keep the chickens enclosed.  We're on 7.5 acres, so we've got plenty of room to move them around and stuff.

The problem is, just as they've started laying, they have gotten into the habit of flying out of the electric fence area around mid-morning and wandering around all over, including recently over to underneath the neighbor's bird feeder.  Even after we've just moved the coop to a new path of area.  

We haven't gotten eggs in a while because they've been laying somewhere else.  And today, apparently 6 chickens went out and only 5 came back.  

I clipped about an inch or two of wing feathers last weekend, but it hasn't helped.  I only clipped on one side.

What should we do?  Can I clip the wings back more?  Clip on both sides instead of one?  Or will that even help?  

Clip on both sides instead of one?

No.  Only clip ONE wing.
If you clip both, it will handicap them some, but they can just flap faster/harder and still fly.
Clipping ONE makes them lop-sided when they try to fly.
Kind of like trying to run if one leg was a foot shorter than the other.

You can probably clip back further...they don't really need to fly unless you have predator problems.

John Polk wrote:

Clip on both sides instead of one?

No.  Only clip ONE wing.
If you clip both, it will handicap them some, but they can just flap faster/harder and still fly.
Clipping ONE makes them lop-sided when they try to fly.
Kind of like trying to run if one leg was a foot shorter than the other.

You can probably clip back further...they don't really need to fly unless you have predator problems.

Gotcha...one wing only.  Thanks!!

How far back is okay to clip?  Halfway?  Three-quarters?

Go to about 7:20 on the below video from Justin Rhodes. He shows you the spot to clip them, and he did it for the same reason you are.

Bill Erickson wrote:Go to about 7:20 on the below video from Justin Rhodes. He shows you the spot to clip them, and he did it for the same reason you are.

Wow...that is WAY higher than we clipped.  Good golly, I can see why they are just laughing off the clipping we gave them.  

They are getting another clip tomorrow.  Thanks!!

What's the next step if that doesn't work?

What's the next step if that doesn't work?

Coq au vin?

We use 7 foot lightweight deer netting, draped over the run. Our electric net fence is staked out 7ft wide x limit of our net length. In a giant rectangle. We hook the net onto the fiberglass poles, and use plastic clothes pins to secure the net, to the fence, as they don't draw power out of the charger. I'll post a pic when I get better service.

John Polk wrote:

What's the next step if that doesn't work?

Coq au vin?

That, or shackles.

Might try keeping them confined to the coop for a week or thereabouts to 'reset' the birds.  Another option might be trading in for a heavier breed of chicken that's less flighty.