trimming wings
- Thread starter shyness
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Kiwibird
Well-known member
- Jul 12, 2012
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- 1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
We clip Kiwi at home, but it is a 2 person job- my hubby restrains him and I clip (I personally count 5 in, and give a light clip, just enough so he can't get lift). I will say, we had him a few years before we started clipping wings and nails at home. We observed a professional do it numerous times before attempting ourselves to be sure we did it right. We also had the type of trust and relationship from him at the point we started doing it that he doesn't struggle, just kind of gives us dirty looks at us until it's over. It's very easy to harm a struggling/frightened bird. You also need to have quickstop or styptic on hand *just in case* you clip a blood feather. But, I honestly wouldn't suggest doing it unless you really have a good grasp on what you should do and how to do it.
Is there a reason she can't be allowed out flighted? You can minimize any risks by doing a "sweep" of the house and making sure all is safe for her (doors/windows closed, toilet lids down, no cooking ext...)
Is there a reason she can't be allowed out flighted? You can minimize any risks by doing a "sweep" of the house and making sure all is safe for her (doors/windows closed, toilet lids down, no cooking ext...)
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veimar
New member
- Feb 5, 2014
- 1,150
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- Parrots
- gcc Parry; lovebird Coco; 3 budgies (Tesla, Franky and Cesar); cockatiel Murzik, red rump parakeet girl Onyx
I always clip my birds myself because those I clip I want semi-flighted and don't trust any vet on that. There is a lot of information online and the clip diagrams. One of this forum members also gave me some good advice. I usually end up clipping them a couple of times at a time because I start with very little and then just add until I have what I want. I just got a totally untamed cockatiel a month ago and had to clip him because he hurt himself flying into the wall - I just grabbed my thick suede gloves and did it on the very first day. It's good if you have someone to hold the bird while you clip, but I did it all by myself. I didn't have any prior experience and it went just fine with all my five birds (two are already fully flighted now). The only very important thing is to check and make sure there are no blood feathers. I think if you watch several youtube videos (use common sense to judge - there is a lot of stupid stuff there) and read you can do it yourself.
Why do you have to keep your bird in the cage all that time?
Why do you have to keep your bird in the cage all that time?
Kiwibird
Well-known member
- Jul 12, 2012
- 9,539
- 111
- Parrots
- 1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
Heres a good photo of Kiwi's clip, which IMO is not a "butcher" clip:
Birds in nature fly into stuff too, especially fledging babies. If it was an isolated incident, don't keep her in her cage for 2 weeks! Put down the blinds/close the curtains/tape up some paper so she sees the window next time. Parrots are EXTREMELY agile fliers if given the opportunity to learn! My parents birds can practically do arial acrobatics indoors around a variety of obstacles. Your Apple will never learn if she doesn't have a few bumps, so I suggest you give her another chance (in a room you've made safe)!
Birds in nature fly into stuff too, especially fledging babies. If it was an isolated incident, don't keep her in her cage for 2 weeks! Put down the blinds/close the curtains/tape up some paper so she sees the window next time. Parrots are EXTREMELY agile fliers if given the opportunity to learn! My parents birds can practically do arial acrobatics indoors around a variety of obstacles. Your Apple will never learn if she doesn't have a few bumps, so I suggest you give her another chance (in a room you've made safe
)!
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- Jan 19, 2014
- 14,233
- 190
- Parrots
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Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
I'm lucky with Robin, I just have him stand on a table and lift his wings up and clip with no restraint at all.
If you take him somewhere, don't let them do it too short, or convince you that it has to be that way. As April (Kiwibird) says "butcher clip". There is a lot of that out there unfortunately where they clip entirely too short and they drop like a rock. The exception might be parakeet species with lighter bodies, who can still actually fly quite well unless the clip is a little more. If you choose to clip an Amazon, they don't need it too short.
If you take him somewhere, don't let them do it too short, or convince you that it has to be that way. As April (Kiwibird) says "butcher clip". There is a lot of that out there unfortunately where they clip entirely too short and they drop like a rock. The exception might be parakeet species with lighter bodies, who can still actually fly quite well unless the clip is a little more. If you choose to clip an Amazon, they don't need it too short.
OP
shyness
New member
- Jul 10, 2012
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Well it is done. I watched two videos took her out her cage sat her on the table opened her wing and took the five flight wings. She just looked at me. I had my bird kit out just in case. All is well in our house! I don't know why I was so nervous my first job was at a bird store in Berkeley ca at 15. I have cut plenty of bird just never by myself.. well now I feel better my baby hit that window and scared me to death. I thought she was going to break her neck
Kiwibird
Well-known member
- Jul 12, 2012
- 9,539
- 111
- Parrots
- 1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
I'm glad it went good and she wasn't "unduly" traumatized over it (though a few "apologetic treats" probably wouldn't be refused).
Just to be sure- you did do both wings right? One sided clips can be more dangerous than no clip.
). Just to be sure- you did do both wings right? One sided clips can be more dangerous than no clip.
Kiwibird
Well-known member
- Jul 12, 2012
- 9,539
- 111
- Parrots
- 1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
Well...how DARE you lol? A peanut doesn't even begin to make up for it and you'll get the "cold wing" the rest of the night I bet Kiwi gives us the ultimate birdie dirty word in his bird language after a clip:52: One of those noises you KNOW you've pissed him off! Hope Apple forgives you soon!
Kiwi gives us the ultimate birdie dirty word in his bird language after a clip:52: One of those noises you KNOW you've pissed him off! Hope Apple forgives you soon!
- Jan 19, 2014
- 14,233
- 190
- Parrots
-
Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
That's great! See? It was easy
You're even experienced with it, sorry I had no idea!
You're even experienced with it, sorry I had no idea!
henpecked
Active member
hey shyness, good job. Now you can clip her whenever she needs it. How about some Apple pics , haven't seen her in a while.
- Jan 19, 2014
- 14,233
- 190
- Parrots
-
Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
Quickstop? How bout stitches! LOL
ImmunoGoblin
New member
- Mar 5, 2014
- 109
- 0
- Parrots
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Tater Tot - DYH Amazon
Kiwi - Orange-winged Amazon
Biscuit - Young-ish cockatiel
I agree that doing it yourself can be better than having someone give your bird an extreme clip. We did our DYH at home, and his clip looks just like Kiwi's clip in the pics above...just the first 5. My OWA, who I adopted, had a SEVERE clip. He can't fly at all and totally just falls down...but i still see him straining to fly all the time - he leans forward and quivers his wings. It's usually when he wants to join us in another room, so I go to retrieve him. My plan is to let them grow in and hopefully give him a gentle clip like our other Zon has. I think the "gentle clip"/"semi-flighted bird" is a nice compromise.
BlueFrontOwner
New member
- Jul 29, 2013
- 54
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Is it really necessary to clip the wings? I don't think my bird would fly away, if she did happen to fly outside, she wouldn't go far before she got scared or tired.
I figure its safer for them to be able to fly in case of emergencies.
I figure its safer for them to be able to fly in case of emergencies.
JerseyWendy
New member
- Jul 20, 2012
- 20,995
- 24
Clipping wings is a highly controversial subject, and each parront/guardian should do as they see fit.
You'd be surprised how far a frightened bird can fly.
ImmunoGoblin
New member
- Mar 5, 2014
- 109
- 0
- Parrots
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Tater Tot - DYH Amazon
Kiwi - Orange-winged Amazon
Biscuit - Young-ish cockatiel
To some people, it's absolutely necessary. To other people, it's a "hell no, never!" But FOR ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN, you cannot say "your bird wouldn't go far before she got scared or tired." Outdoor free flight is NOT the same thing as indoor free flight, and birds often don't know how to ascend/descend in the outdoors without training in doing so. Our DYH flew out the front door when he was 5 months old - not even fully weaned! He caught an updraft, got higher than he knew what to do about, and could not return to me. I ran down the street screaming as I watched him soar away. It was a HORRIBLE feeling. PLEASE do not assume your bird will be easy to recover if she gets outside and you have not practiced outdoor free-flight and recall training. Even those aren't failsafe. I got EXTREMELY lucky and kind strangers + Craigslist helped our bird get back to us - but it was February and about 15 degrees and he stayed out overnight. It's a miracle that he survived.
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