Modena Discussion Is Now Open

[TerriB]

I don't think I would let a Modena out to exercise outside of a flight pen. They are not agile or strong fliers so would be an easy target for a hawk, falcon, stray cat or dog. If spooked, they don't have the strong homing instinct like homers to find their way back to your place.

[yellowking]

If you have supervision of the birds, you will be fine. I let my birds out all the time and I am surrounded by neighbors with dogs and cats.

What I do is I clip the primaries of the hens, only enough so that it prevents them from flying over the fences, roof, etc. Do not completely clip all the primaries!!! It only takes like 4 feathers to prevent them from going over the fences. What you do is span the wings out, save the first and most important primaries so they can flap, stretch and go from perch to perch. Clip the rest of the primaries. You won't even notice that they are clipped unless they flap or try to fly.

Why I recommend you do this?

This is for a few reasons. First it prevents them from flying and landing in the wrong places, if these guys fly over to a neighbors yard, they are not coming back.

Second, if the hens are not going anywhere, the cocks will not go anywhere. The cocks will stay with it's mate no matter what. If they get spooked for any reason, they will try to fly...the hen will fly up and land immediately without a full span of primaries, the cock will land immediately following his hen.

Third, your birds will appreciate having most of its primaries so it doesn't feel like it is handicap. A bird cannot stretch or flap and it really is sad to see people who clips or pluck every single feather, it prevents the bird from being balanced and it stresses the bird out.

Fourth, if you let them out enough...after they molt, the hens will grow back her feathers on her own, so it eliminates plucking any flight feathers (which is the hardest, longest, and most painful to grow). After the feathers are fully bloomed, they will by then hopefully learn and know their boundaries and not go past their designated area.

I use to keep about 6 pairs of modenas, and this method works wonders! I have never had problems with my modenas getting hurt or getting stranded in a neighbors yard.

Keep in mind, when you do this...Supervision is a must at all time until you lock them in again.

Good luck and enjoy them chubby things!!!