Wing Clipping

After buying a GCC for my son a year or so ago, I liked it so much I purchased my own. I have my son every weekend and a couple of weeks per year along with the birds. They have become best friends and get along great together. When he goes back to his mom, my bird gets a little mopey but gets over it quickly. When I am home she is always out and on my shoulder. My 13 year old son does the same with his bird but does not clean up after her very well. His mom texted me last week and said that she had not signed up to have a flighted bird and that I should just keep her at my house full time if we weren't going to clip the wings. I had already committed to getting a baby pineapple GCC that could keep mine company while I was at work. Against my better judgement, I went to what I thought was a very reputable bird store to get nails, beak and wings clipped. Needless to say, the owner who claims to have 30 years experience butchered both birds wings so they drop like a rock now. Totally butchered the both birds. They are devastated and I now feel horrible for taking away their birdhood. Camila, my bird, does not want anything to do with me now. She just looks at me like she is thinking of all the ways to kill me. She won't even take her favorite treats from me. I am at a loss. I know time heals all wounds but does anyone have any good advice to help lessen the blow? I am so mad at the store and it’s owner. They came very highly recommended and I was told by numerous people how much the owner loves birds and has to kiss everyone that comes through the door. She didn’t say one soothing word as the birds screamed as she did what appeared to be an assembly line grooming. I went from two awesome birds that did everything with me to two birds that sit in front of the window doing nothing. Shame on me for even considering clipping their wings but I was under the impression that a good clip would keep them from gain altitude. Even more mad just writing this all out.

Well dont go beating yourself up to badly. What's done is done and just like hair the feathers will grow back fairly quick. At least they did with my little guy. It seems the smaller birds have a much faster feather growth than the large birds . My Grey took a year and a half , the Conure 6-8 mos. Time will heal just be very careful when their out as when they fall they can be hurt easily.

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Oh my - I’m so sorry for both you and your birds (if I could figure out how to put make an angry face on here, I would make one at the bird store person)! I’m incensed on your behalf and on your birds behalf!

That being said, best to figure out how to move forward. I haven’t ever clipped my birds, but two came to me with fairly severe wing clips. They take time to grow out.....but they do grow out. I think my biggest concern for yours would be trying to help them adjust to the lack of flight - don’t want them leaping off anything and then realizing that they can’t fly. My initial thoughts would be to put ropes or ladders between their normal play areas to allow them some independent movement. I have one that still chooses not to fly anywhere (must have always been clipped before coming to me), so I have to watch for cues that he wants to move from one area to another and offer a ride.

The anger will hopefully fade. Offer treats and leave the treats for them if they won’t accept directly from you, talk to them lots and continue to offer interaction and respect when they don’t want it. They have had a big shock, and need to know that you haven’t changed and you’re still there for them. Keep them close by when possible, because they won’t be able to follow you as easily. See if you can find new stuff to amuse them or new areas to play with them - perhaps foot toys or chasing a ball? Make sure that they are okay navigating their cages and nothing became inaccessible.

Yup....I’m still angry at the store for doing this to you and yours....grrrrr. If you need a clip again, an avian vet might be able to do a better job of it. So sorry this happened. Hope others can offer suggestions as well.

Wing clipping is a contentious subject amongst those who keep birds almost as much as what is the correct way to clip. As far as I am aware clipping both wings is the correct way to do so. A lot of people clip all of the primaries rather than the first 4 or 5 which sounds like what may have happened to your birds.

Personally I prefer to do it myself so I have more control. It's fairly easy to do with the smaller parrots but does require good leather gloves for the larger ones.

Thank you. She cut every flight feathers more than half.

I had never done a beak before and wanted to see it done. I have done their nails over the last year. I had a ring neck 20 years ago and used to clip her wings myself.feathers. It was all the same cost so I figured I would leave it to the professional. Should have gone with my gut on this one and just said no, not going to clip the wings.

The new baby is clipped and floats to the ground.

Yup - the first 4 or 5 flights is usually enough to keep them from “flying” but allows them to glide downward. I don’t clip mine, but we do clip at the rescue that I volunteer because there’s a greater chance of someone opening a cage at an inopportune moment.

It sounds like you know how to do it and could do it yourself next time if it’s needed again. That pet store lady cut way too many flights (in my opinion) .

I don’t think it’s an opinion. She definitely cut to much.

I’m done trimming their wings. I feel so guilty. I know it’s a controversial subject but I personally will never do it again.

I have cathedral ceilings that have been tiled with cork. The devastation that free flying parrots could cause in a rental property like this mean clipped or no birds.

I also learned how to do it myself to avoid people who do it incorrectly and so I have more control of how much or little flight they have. Start with the first couple of primaries on each wing and see how much they can get about. Go back and clip another feather if the have to much flight, which is usually the case. Repeat as needed.

I appreciate the advice but not going to clip anymore. I have harnesses but have not trained them yet with them. I will take the next six or so months to get them used to them.

Thanks for the advice though.

JWF1602 said:

Thank you. She cut every flight feathers more than half.

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Wow! What a butcher job!!!
Poor things! Be very careful they can break their keel bone and also rupture their insides falling.
I would recommend spending time in a carpeted bedroom and let the fall into the bed to help them understand they can't fly right now...
Your baby will forgive you, can take time if the trust bond was broken...lots of treats help heal
Be very clear and demand they show you exactly what they plan to cut next time.
I keep all my birds flighted and am big pro flight. Especially for young birds to master flight before ever being clipped, if clipping has to happen.
Ta-dah sends her sympathy

Yep, and she claims to have 30 years experience here in Arizona.

Good news is Camila came to me and gave me a kiss. She hadn’t even stepped up for two days. She ran off real quick but it’s a start.

They'll recover and forgive you for it. Fair enough if you don't want to get them clipped again. If I had the choice I would leave my birds flighted as well.

I'm glad you're going to keep them flighted from now on and they truly deserve it. Its what they were born to do. Yes its lots of work keeping up with flighted birds but very worth it. As you mentioned now is a great time to take advantage with training and harness training as well. You will have their undivided attention just keep the sessions 5 min or less. Please bear in mind that their reaction to the clipping is based more on fear than emotions and as long as your emotions stay positive and you continue to interact the fear will lesson and they will continue grow psychologically. The most important thing now is to make sure they dont fall as I mentioned earlier because short term the fear side of the brain will send them into flight forgetting they are grounded.

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Yeah. That’s happened a couple of times now. I don’t let them up high now.

Thank you all for your your words of wisdom. I think I am just as traumatized as they are about the whole thing. It really hurt to see their demeanor change instantly. I am so accustomed to have them hanging off me around the house. Especially when there is water running. Now they have a hard time staying on my shoulder.

The nails will grow quickly and they soon will be all over you hanging confidently , they will find ways to get your attention to come get them and before you know it they'll be pooping all over the house again and you behind them wiping it up hollering get on your stand dinosaurs!!. Hang in there and enjoy working with them on a eye to eye level and teach them as much as you can before they have the freedom to say NO and fly away. The fact that you care SO much shows immensely , just know everything will be back to crazy again soon. Good luck!

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