Cockatiel flying weird

IloveConures · Jul 15, 2013

I noticed that when my cockatiel flies he cant go for very long and usually has a rough landing. I was thinking about it and realized his previous owners had clipped his wing and the left side is about 2 inches shorter that the right. Will I just have to wait and have it grow out or is there something I can do?

Thanks for reading. All help is appreciated

crimson · Jul 15, 2013

yikes!....2 inches, wow, that's too much to cut off... well, since it has already been done, there may be some options but not many.

one is to trim the other wing a wee bit shorter, but I really don't see how that would help.
personally I would just leave it.

his wing will gradually over time grow, and he will be fine, hopefully they didn't damage any feathers.

maybe some other members have better suggestions....

sorry I couldn't be of more help

MikeyTN · Jul 16, 2013

He might of been all clipped but grew back his right side from starting of a molt or he may have just knocked them out already from flopping. So the right wing may have grown back already while the left wing is still left clipped. You can let him be until molt and he will grow them back eventually.

IloveConures · Jul 16, 2013

Should I not allow him to fly until it is grown back or just make sure he lands on something soft?

Pajarita · Jul 16, 2013

No, he wouldn't have molted just one wing, molts are always symmetrical so it has to have been clipped. The unilateral clip is no longer used because it's so dangerous and uncomfortable for the bird (not that any clip is comfortable but some are worse than others). You will have to wait until he molts but, thankfully, this is the right season for it so although he is not going to molt all the clipped primaries, two of them should be good enough for him to sustain a more even flight. In the meantime, just be very careful with him and, if you can provide him with a soft surface for him to land, better still.

MikeyTN · Jul 16, 2013

Its not always symmetrical! I disagree with that part!

Mayden · Jul 16, 2013

Moults are usually symmetrical, but not always.

I'd say cut down on his unsupervised flying. Encourage landing to 'soft spots' like the couch, etc. He wont learn to manage his new clip without trying

Cockatiel flying weird

IloveConures

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Some old pictures of the tiels, wanted to share

my tiels

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