Wing trouble

Yesterday out of the blue Sailor flew out of her enclosure while I had the doors open and into the next room and landed awkwardly on top of our big corner aquarium. I was totally shocked she made it that far because her wings are clipped by the breeder and she had never done anything beyond a short glide to the floor before. I didn't think she hurt herself at all and she seemed fine at the time. Now today I noticed she's favoring a wing and it's drooping slightly below the other one. It doesn't seem very bad and she's moving it around ok otherwise. I've seen her adjust it periodically all day.

It's drooping about an inch below the other one on and off until she readjusts it and pulls it back in line with the other one. Should she go to the vet or should I wait a day or two and see if it gets better on it's own? Do you think if she can move it does that mean it's going to be fine and it's not broken? I'm not sure if I'm worrying for nothing or if it could be something worse. Is a slightly drooping wing vet-worthy?

Now that I know she could do that I'll be careful to watch her when the doors are open. She had never tried that before in her enclosure because she loves it in there. The one time she jumped down it was from her playstand because she wanted back in her enclosure.

With wing damage it's best to be seen by a vet right away cause after it had time to heal itself without any attention it can heal back improperly making it a permanent condition. But the call is yours to make.

Ok thanks Mike. I'll take her to the vet tomorrow.

Oh wow! It's amazing how well clipped birds can fly when they have their mind put to it. I would agree with Mike for sure, and I'm glad you're taking her in. It's always better to be over cautious in my opinion. Poor little Sailor, I hope she's okay!

My Venus has a serious clip, we don't encourage her but in the last 48 hours she's making her own plans. Is your baby trying to fly regardless of the flip?

She flew just this one time and it was a good one. She's well clipped by the company I bought her from and she still managed to fly from one room to the other. It's a straight shot in there, but a decent distance nonetheless. I couldn't believe my eyes when she did it, I think my jaw was on the floor because she's clipped! I didn't think she could do that at all. I called the vet and the avian vet only stays in there until noon through the week. So I'm waiting on a call back in the morning. She's the only one in our area within a thirty minute drive and the next is nearly an hour away.

Could you post pictures of the clip? Cause I don't get what you mean by good clip. They would have to cut the primary feathers to a certain length for them to not being able to fly. If they can glide, then they have no problem flying period, which means the primary aren't cut that short. Or not enough primary been cut.

Of course she's not cooperating at all by showing enough of her wing and I'm not going to touch them right now so this is the best I can show you:




They left the longest front feather alone and then hacked the next three or four up. You can't see it here but when her wing is extended it's a raggedy mess under there. When I said they clipped her good, I meant they clipped her badly. It's a tatty mess. I would imagine from how unsocialized this bird is that she must have put up a fight. They also clipped some of her tail feathers off.

The avian vet called me back and asked me several questions about her range of motion in that wing and what she's doing/eating, etc. She suggested it sounds like a bruised wing more than more serious damage and asked me to watch her today. If she's no better tomorrow she told me to call her back and bring her in. It looks like she's holding it up correctly so far today but I'll see what the rest of the day holds. I don't know, if I feel it's still not right I'll take her in regardless. It's not worth the risk. Thanks for the input Mike. I feel better having asked here.

I hope it's just minor and that all is well with Sailor. I hate to hear of people giving such terrible clip jobs. They obviously don't know what they're doing, so why force the bird to suffer from their inexperience? Smh.

Btw, Sailor is beautiful!

I think Sailor will be fine. You said she's holding the wing all right today, yes? I believe she probably bruised it, and therefore let it droop a bit yesterday.

From what I can see from the photos you posted of your pretty girl, I'm assuming they only cut part of the primaries, therefore she'll be able to fly somewhat. Perhaps not long distance, and she may not be able to get up there in height, but fly nonetheless.

WHY would they clip her tail? I understand young big macs are often clumsy and tatter up their tails (both of mine did, especially Niko), but I would have never clipped tail feathers off, unless there was an obvious kink that was bothersome to him.

Yeah. Clipping tail feathers doesn't make sense to me unless the tail was so ratty and torn up that they cut it. (Which baby big macs tend to do... so I'm guessing.) Most baby macs have ratty tail feathers for the first two years or so, because they play rough, and don't have the coordination to mind those tail feathers, and don't preen them as well as they should.

It's the outer primary that allows the bird to fly. Normally I clip the outer four about half way up. That leaves them limited flight capability, but not so much that they end up getting lost on you out and about.

Maggie doesn't actually get clipped anymore. I've decided to leave Sally flighted as well.

Minimaker said:

Of course she's not cooperating at all by showing enough of her wing and I'm not going to touch them right now so this is the best I can show you:

They left the longest front feather alone and then hacked the next three or four up. You can't see it here but when her wing is extended it's a raggedy mess under there. When I said they clipped her good, I meant they clipped her badly. It's a tatty mess. I would imagine from how unsocialized this bird is that she must have put up a fight. They also clipped some of her tail feathers off.

The avian vet called me back and asked me several questions about her range of motion in that wing and what she's doing/eating, etc. She suggested it sounds like a bruised wing more than more serious damage and asked me to watch her today. If she's no better tomorrow she told me to call her back and bring her in. It looks like she's holding it up correctly so far today but I'll see what the rest of the day holds. I don't know, if I feel it's still not right I'll take her in regardless. It's not worth the risk. Thanks for the input Mike. I feel better having asked here.

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Your quite welcome! After looking at the pictures, they were going for the looks by leaving the first 2 or 3 primary feathers and it looks like the other feathers were cut at a minimum, they don't have trouble flying good with that type of cut. It only hiders them just a bit with that type of cut.

It's probably just a bruised wing like they suggested. Hope everything goes well!!!

The princess was bathing so I took advantage and took a pic of her wing clip. She has not been able to get lift. Is this type of clip a good one?

It's kinda hard to see because the photo is a little dark? Can anyone else make it out?

Sailor is fine today, she's been climbing her enclosure like a monkey and eating like a piggy quite happily. Her wing is held in place fine today. The vet called today and we discussed it and she said she doesn't see the need to bring her in now. She said she must have irritated it when she landed badly on the aquarium. But now I know what to watch for now and what to do if it happens again. Thanks everyone, much appreciated. Crisis averted And now I know she can fly fine despite the clipped wings, good to know.

I'm glad that she seems to be okay and that things are going a little easier for you.

Ok I was able to filter and lighten the pic. I've seen clips where a few feathers are clipped, skipping some but Venus is missing the middle, no full length feathers except the wing tip and by the body/shoulder.

Her wings look very much more clipped than Sailor's are. That looks more like my conure's wings that were clipped properly. He can't fly at all, sort of just flutters to the ground. I doubt your bird will be able to get far.

So far she can't but she recently has started jumping off the play to onto the floor, only 5 foot jump (I cringe each time). I don't really like the clip so I'm hoping to learn what a good clip is. Birdman's reply was enlightening and seeing your baby's has helped a lot.

With that clip I bet she falls straight down Taw...She will get some help from her wings soon as the front two primary is in. Should be able to glide soon after some more primary feathers is replaced.

MikeyTN said:

With that clip I bet she falls straight down Taw...She will get some help from her wings soon as the front two primary is in. Should be able to glide soon after some more primary feathers is replaced.

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Yes she goes straight to the floor. This is why I'm comfortable taking her outside for now. We are still working on the harness. When I take her out its to get groceries from the car (I'm looking up and all around for the resident hawk), but we stay under the porches. Once her feathers grow in, the outdoor trips will stop without the harness being on. I don't like the clip because she sinks like a rock.