Why Do Chickens Have Wings?

If there is one unique feature that birds have than any other animals, that is their wings.

After all, the ability to fly across distances is something really great to have.

Not to mention the other uses of this flying ability.

However, we also know that there are bird species that even with wings, they are considered flightless, such as chickens.

But here’s the question some people ask – Why do chickens have wings?

Chickens have wings, but they cannot lift their body off the ground and fly across places.

Though they can still lift their body to take a huge leap and perch on semi-high trees, they cannot stay in mid-air for a long period of time.

Still, it does not mean that their wings are completely useless.

Chickens use their wings for mating, balancing, protection, and caring for their chicks. 

So yes, there are many benefits for a chicken to have wings even if they can’t fly

Let’s get into more detail in this article

Carry on reading

Can Chickens Fly?

Chickens can still fly, but it is not the same as any other bird species where they can stay in the air for a long period of time and travel to places.

If we are going to compare the abilities of chickens to any other birds, we can say that chickens’ flying abilities are more likely a jump.

They flap their wings and try to fly over small distances and heights.

They can jump on trees to perch, leap over fences, and even jump to land on a place with a reasonable height. 

That is why it’s important to have high fences if you have chickens

I go into more detail in my article – How high should a chicken fence be?

Is Chicken a Flightless Bird?

Flightless birds are the species that have wings, but are unable to lift their body off the ground.

Chickens, on the other hand, still have the ability to lift themselves, flap their wings, and land to a higher place.

So, technically speaking, chickens are not flightless. 

They cannot only do the same degree of flying like other birds, but they can still fly.

At most, chickens can only fly over to places that are not that high and only be able to lift their body for a short period of time.

Some birds that are really flightless are penguins and ostriches. 

Why Can’t Chickens Fly Far?

Chickens cannot fly far and quite high because their body is too heavy and big for their wings to carry.

In particular, their wings and bones have become so small and heavy for them, making it very difficult for them to take off. 

Most of the time, they can only fly up to 10 feet off the ground.

Some breeds may fly surprisingly better than any other domesticated chickens, but overall, they do not have the ability to travel across long distances. 

Can Chickens Fly Over Fences?

Chickens would willingly look anywhere to forage for food, even if it means going over your neighbor’s land.

A not-so-high fence would not be enough to keep your fowls inside your field.

After all, they can still fly over them if they do not have to fly or jump too high from the ground.

A 6-foot high fence would be enough to prevent your chickens from escaping.

This height is something that would already be considered high and troublesome for some breeds.

However, if you have chickens that are known to be a little better at flying, such as California White chickens, it is better to make your fences a little higher to be safe. 

You can check out my article How high should a chicken fence be?

Another interesting article you should check out is – Do chickens dig under fences?

Where Do Wings Come From On a Chicken?

It is pretty much easy to say that the wings are the arms of the chickens.

These very same chicken wings are also the chicken body parts that we eat and cook.

Some wings that we see in the grocery stores vary in size – some are too large or too small.

However, small wings do not necessarily mean that it came from baby chickens. 

All chicken wings are from adult chickens.

The reason why it varies in sizes is because it all depends on the breed.

Some breeds have relatively smaller wings and bigger bodies.

This is usually the chickens that cannot fly at all, given how they are too heavy to be carried by their small wings. 

Why Did Chickens Evolve To Not Fly?

It is said that chickens used to fly before, but because of selective breeding, they lost the ability.

Chickens are said to be bred to become earthbound as they are mainly raised as food for humans.

They have been bred and pumped with steroids, hormones, and other chemicals to become more full and heavy.

This led to heavier flight muscles and a massive body.

Because their muscles and bodies have become bigger, the proportion becomes imbalanced whereas their wings have become too small to carry the large mass.

Over the years that chickens have been bred, they pretty much lost their original ability to fly over high places for a longer period of time.

Why Do Chickens Need Wings Clipped?

Wing clippings means cutting the primary feathers that chickens use to fly.

It’s a quick, painless method to prevent your chickens from going places and escaping to other lands.

This remains an option if you want to keep your chickens inside your place, especially for breeds that have better flying abilities.

You can either clip their wings by yourself or with a veterinarian’s help.

If your chickens do not escape that much and are not able to fly that well, wing clippings may not be necessary.

Wrapping Up

Although chickens have wings, they do not have the ability to fly from place to place for a long time.

They can only fly to places that are not too high and immediately land on them as they cannot hold their body in the air for too long.

Chickens lost their flying abilities due to selective breeding, causing them to gain more mass.

Since their wings have become smaller than their bodies, they could no longer lift themselves off the ground. 

 

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