Can Chickens Fly?

Well, normally of course you'd think back to that great movie, Chicken Run. And hopefully have a chuckle. Yes, chickens can fly but not far so they have the ability to roost in trees and get safely down again, but not to migrate. It's a complex combination of factors such as their body weight and wing design. What homesteaders need to know is that some breeds can fly better than others. Some bantams can easily make it over a fence, and others can barely flap enough to raise the dust. If you're really concerned about them making a break for it then clipping the longest feathers, called flight feathers, will forestall a dramatic escape. But realistically, it's sometimes useful to be able to hop up into a tree if say a dog comes by and you want to be safe. What do we do? We leave their beaks, feathers and feet alone. Just let them be chickens.

Having said that, a chicken recently went to space on a solar radiation experiment. Don't worry, it was a rubber chicken used by some school children. Here's the video. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17793724