Flight feathers don't grow back??

Hello all,

My husband and I recently purchased a 10 yr old B&G. The family we purchased her from lost their home and had to move into an apartment with 3 children under the age of 5. Needless to say, Sahara was very unhappy. With saddened heart they knew she needed a new home and we were fortunate enough that Sahara picked us (well she picked my husband anyway ).

The reason for my post is the wife told us that her husband, who was the main caretaker of the bird cut her flight feathers in such a way that they would never grow back. She said he likes them to have a fuller wing or rather that it doesn't look cut; which I have to say is very true. There is no evidence that the flight feathers are cut - though she can't fly; just flutters to the ground. I assume she has enough feathers to support her weight because she does not just drop like a stone if she gets scared or something. She flutters to the ground gracefully.

I've never heard of such a thing. She's still getting to know us and so we have not attempted as yet to traumatize her any more by looking at her wings to see what's going on.

However, as I mentioned, in looking at her wing as it lays on her body, it does not appear to be cut at all. I suppose until we open her wing to see what's what I won't really know, but I'm wondering if there is such a way to cut flight feathers so they don't grow back.

Thanks in advance for any info.
Nichole

Her flight feathers will grow back.

Feathers 'molt' meaning that they will fall out and regrow. This process for an entire wing of feathers can take over a year, depending on the bird. It doesn't matter that they were 'cut' they will eventually fall out and regrow themselves.

So long as they don't mean Pinioning

If her feathers "look" full, she could even have show clip done.

Thanks for the responses. This afternoon she spread her wings and I was able to see underneath. I did a search about cutting flight feathers to see if I could match what I saw. It appears that a number of secondary flights feathers and secondary coverts were cut. I can see a straight edge, what looks like a scissors cut in these feathers or part of her wing so that's what i'm assuming just by the view I got when she spread her wings.

Is this common? I thought the primary flight feathers were what were clipped? What are the pros and cons of clipping these secondary feathers versus primary?

It seems a little weird to clip only the secondaries to me apart from aesthetic reasons.

I read somewhere, cant remember where, that the primary flight feathers are to generate 'thrust', and actually move a bird, and that the secondaries are for generating 'lift' by keeping a fold of air under the wings.

As the purpose of clipping is usually supposed to let them float slowly to the ground, it just makes sense that the secondaries are helpful in allowing this to happen...

Can you get a pic?

On my GW the breeder cut the four outermost feathers on each wing. These are the flight feathers. They cut the feathers just beneath where the row of feathers just above the flight feathers partially cover the flight feathers. No other feathers were cut.

It took a full year for all those cut feathers to fall out and to regrow.

If after a good molt and you notice that the flight feathers are perfectly regrown, and yet your cockatiel still cannot fly, then it may well be that your bird forgot how to fly. Sure, a lot of people think that flying is a one time thing - like riding a bike - once you learn how to do it, you can't forget how to do it. However, this is untrue. After about a good half year to a year, your bird may think it lacks the ability to fly. This isn't a lost cause though. If you have two standing perches (if not, go buy them because this is the only way to do it), put them apart enough so that you bird can easily and comfortably cross without risking anything. Give them a treat every third time they cross. Continue to do so by separating the perches farther and farther until they have to hop to get across, and then fly to get across. Do each step as many times as needed for 15 minutes, treating every time the first 5-10 times as they gain confidence. Eventually, have them fly across. If your bird is target trained, simply place the target stick at one perch to get them to go across. If they are not, it is fine, simply just put your bird's favorite treat at the other end, reward once they reach their goal.

If this is not the case, still do not worry because it may not be the time for your bird to molt. Instead, just patiently wait about another 6 months and if your bird has still not molted then, it must be that they cut the feathers wrong so they won't grow back naturally, however this isn't likely a cause if cut by an avian veterinarian who knows what they are doing. Don't worry if your bird is not displaying any signs of sickness because it may well be that it is not the time for your bird to molt or that they cut the feathers wrong.