I just got my GC wings clipped, and more!

Hi, my name is Natasha and this is my first post, although I am a long time reader. I've been having trouble with Mickey, my love and my green cheek. He's been molting for a bit less than a month and he has been a terrorist. Wouldn't let me near him, and when I came around to spend time with him, he'd shred his toys as if he was saying "stay away, or this is what I'll do to you." I never gave up on him though, he's my lovie.. So- this morning I took him to the vet to get his wings trimmed and his nails cut down (I don't want any resentment, so I let my vet do it..) but my vet couldn't cut 3 flight feathers on his one wing since they weren't grown completely. I believe that he cut them too short- and now my poor Micks plummets.. bad. He has been flying for sometime now (too long I know)- he was even trained for "shower" which he'd fly into his shower perch and fly out when the shower was over. But, wierd thing is that since I brought Mickey back from the vet, he's a new bird- stepping up without biting, chirping as soon as I walk in the room, and nestling on my shoulder- the things he wouldn't do since he started molting- so today has been a complete 360 for Mickey- I'm just scared for him and his lack of flight. It seems he does not want to believe that his wings are clipped so he keeps trying to fly.. and I cannot keep him locked in his cage. Will he figure out soon that he has to walk everywhere or should I just keep a dozen pillows handy when he's out? Thank you everyone!:41:


I accidently posted this under recipes first.. I'm new.

He will learn soon enough. My quaker used to do the same everytime I clipped him. None of the birds I own now are clipped except one very mean Cockatiel. I keep him clipped so he can't go far cause he give a nasty bite....

I found the same thing when I had my GCC's wings clipped. He's a much easier to deal with now.

You made me laugh with you post, I call Loco a Ninja Terrorist hahaha.

Okay- so the terrorist is back!! Last night on his "coat" where he likes to perch by the couch where I sit he became very territorial. Got the wooden spoon, and from the wooden spoon he stepped up on my finger, I took him back, and put him to bed. This morning I woke up and opened his cage and everytime I tried to get him to step up he'd run back into his cage. Finally, I got him to step up and he chomped my thumb, hard. And he has about 10 more spikes on his head, that weren't there yesterday.. WHEN WILL THIS MADNESS STOP? how long is he going to molt for? he won't touch millet seed and I found a cockatiel molting formula I have been filling his treat bowl with.. any suggestions? Thank you all!

I think part of his frustration is you ignoring his body language. For instance:
"everytime I tried to get him to step up he'd run back into his cage"
Which is fine with some birds, but other birds take great offence to this and then resort to biting. My advice on that, is lure him away from his cage with a treat. Or make it a game. If Baby doesn't want to come out of his cage (and I think he should), we play "peek-a-boo". I open his cage, act all excited and talk excitedly, look like I'm gonna take him out. And then, I just walk away out of his sight. I give it about a minute, then pop my head back in asking "whatcha' doing Baby?" make it excited, then walk away again. Eventually he tries to figure out what I'm doing and comes to see me.

Another thing: How do you pet your GCC? I know people can get "rough" with their scratches. I'm not always particularly gentle and Baby just loves it! But when he is molting his feathers are extra sensitive and I have to be careful how I touch him. Instead of rough scratches (or any scratches at all) I gently rub Baby's pin feathers between my fingers and "preen" him like another bird would. I sometimes just pick at individual feathers and/or pins and just be very gentle. Baby had learned to love me touching him when he is moulting.

Hope this helps a bit (If I didn't address the question right I apologise, Haven't finished my coffee yet )

I agree with the pin feathers being very sensitive, I've been trying to help Loco with the pins around his beak. These seem the be the first ones he's developed. There are heaps of them now. Is this where they usually develop first?

Sometimes I must touch them the wrong way and he shrieks. Just gotta be careful

I pet him how he wants to be pet. I have longer nails and he'll come up and guide his head along my nails where he'd like to be pet. he does this too with his toys and different parts of his cage where certain points stick out. I don't think its his pin feathers, he's never, ever tried to bite me while i was petting him. He'll tell me he don't want to be pet before i touch him- i just miss him, you know? I have a bulldog too- but it doesn't make up for not having Mickey on my side like he used to be. Thanks for everyone's input in my situation!