Imping Wings

Hey all, I just put a deposit down on a beautiful baby Amazon for my birthday. I have big plans for her socialization and training but my only concern is that she's been clipped already (at 9 weeks old?!). I feel it is very important to her mental and physical health that she fully retain the ability to fly throughout her development. I have an aviator harness and everything already.

My question here is about the process known as 'imping'. I've read as much as I can about it, seen videos, etc. and was wondering if anyone on the forum has any experience with it? I may reach out to some falconers if not.

I'm also a little hopeless on finding feathers to use. My baby is a hybrid (Red Lored / White Fronted ) so nothing is going to be exactly her size. But hey, it's more than worth a try.
Does anyone have suggestions as to where i can find suitable flight feathers? I think baby is missing 3/4 of her primaries.

I understand the need to use 'Imping' (Implanting) Wing and Tail Feathers on an Adult Companion Parrot that had received a dangerous 'Single Wing Clipping'. That said, on a 9+ week old Baby Parrot, it is an expansive process that with a very young Parrot will likely not hold as long as with a Parrot that already knows how to fly. With the on-going crashes that a Baby will be experiencing, IMHO its just not worth the cost and possible side effects of such a procedure.

Please assure that your Parrot is 'fully' on solid foods for at least a couple of weeks before you bring you Amazon home.

I am really not sure your Breeder is all that wise! If it was me, I would get my deposit back and find a much better Breeder! Creating a Hybrid, a Red Lored / White Fronted no less, would have me avoiding this person! There is no value gain by this combination and there are downsides to this combination!

There are enough good Breeders out there that are not doing dumb stuff like this that you should be looking for one of them and avoid this idiot!

Sorry for the cold water.

I know jack about imping on baby birds. I do know that baby parrots are hell on feathers an it is the rare one that does not have it;s share of broken, over-preened or otherwise experimented on ( by the parrot itself) feathers. Please heed what 'Boats it telling you, it is absolute Amazon gold. Also, read the stickies at the top of the Amazon sub forum, first to yourself several times, and then out loud several times to your new Amazon.

I was also wondering about this procedure as the breeder clipped Kermit's wings and although he can still fly, I can see that he longs to fly like Ducky and Bluebell. He can only fly in a straight line, can't turn around to avoid objects or gain lift. He also can't stay airborne for very long.

Perhaps to all those expectant parronts reading this thread it should be one of the important questions to ask the breeder and/or say you do want a clipped bird?

Just wondering if it was done at 9 weeks old to swerve that question? Take Sailboat's advice IMO.

SailBoat said:

Creating a Hybrid, a Red Lored / White Fronted no less, would have me avoiding this person! There is no value gain by this combination and there are downsides to this combination

Click to expand...

Oh, can you tell me some of them? Possible health defects, or..? This is the first I'm hearing of anything.

9 weeks old is very young to be clipped I don't think I'd be too happy with this breeder .

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Does kinda make you wonder what else is going to turn up, which will most likely be costly and heartbreaking?