Advice needed please

[Dazzadoo123]

Hi everyone im darren from the uk and im 47 and recently bought a blue a gold macaw that is a male and hes 7 months old. The problem i have is everytime i open his cage he goes to the top and starts flying round the room then crashes into the wall or bookcase or window and im paranoid hes gonna hurt himself.... Question i wanted to ask is getting his feathers clipped an option maybe just looking for For advice..
Thankyou
Darren...

 

[plumsmum2005]

Hi hun, welcome to the forum it looks like you need to build trust and develop a relationship with him as each foray out is going to lessen that.



My opinion is NO to clipping, it can and does huge amount of psychological harm. BTW my cockatoo was wing hacked and unable to fly when I got her a few years ago. She is dreadful at flying and in fact doesnt really want to. You see I have some work to do?



You B&G is a baby and will be for some time, please just work on building trust and training to ensure he will be safe when he is out.


http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/

 

[SailBoat]

Welcome to Parrotforum!

A young B&G is going to have a ton of energy and it is important for them to use that energy. The best method for them to use their energy stores is flight!

Teach your Parrot safe flight paths in your home. Have your Mac Step-up and walk out away from the cage until you meet a wall, door, window or a mirror /picture. Stop nose to surface with your Mac's beak on the wall as well. Knock on the surface to show that it is hard.

I call this process the Real Estate Agent's home tour! The goal is to teach your Parrot 'safe' flight paths in your home. It is also great for introduction things in the home, which are new to your Parrot. The goal is to provide multiple 'safe' flight paths out, safe landing zones and safe paths back to the cage. This is something you work on daily until you see you Parrot fly out away from the cage turn to avoid hitting something and landing in/on and safe zone.

There are sharp divides regarding whether to clip their wings or not. IMHO, it is very important for a young Parrot to develop flight muscles and as a result a strong heart and air sacks (lungs) before any clipping. It is as important as teaching safe flight paths.

 

[LaManuka]

Hello Dazzadoo123, welcome to the Forums to you and your B&G. Don't forget to tell us his name will you?

I am an non-clipper myself. It can be a positive thing in some situations but, since a bird's entire physiology has evolved for flight over millions of generations it would seem the better alternative is to make whatever modifications necessary to enable them to retain the ability that is so fundamental to their existence.

One of our beloved members, GaleriaGila, has a habit of walking round any new environment with her Patagonian conure, the infamous Rickeybird, and knocking on the walls and windows to indicate to him that they are a solid surface. He in turn acknowledges by tapping them with his beak, as illustrated in the short video below...

[ame="https://youtu.be/jF1lyE72pOs"]https://youtu.be/jF1lyE72pOs[/ame]

Personally I always ensure any large windows are covered with net curtains or blinds so that my birds are aware there's an obstacle in place.

Don't forget to post some pictures will you, we love baby photos around here!

http://www.parrotforums.com/technical-support/6287-how-post-pictures.html

(This is a very subtle hint )

 

[fiddlejen]

To answer your question specifically, clipping IS an option. It is better to avoid it if you can. Ideally find good ways to manage the flying and crashing - ideas already given here; along with, work on target training and taming, etc. Certainly Better If Safe, to not clip.

I think your bird should naturally be learning soon to not hit walls and ceilings, and thus Probably does Not need clipped. (Btw, how small is the room? Could that be any part of this problem?) Also curtains over windows can help with window-crashing, if she is not yet tame enough to do the window-tour.

However. IF with some work you are not able to train/manage the Crashing... a Clipped Bird is Better than a Badly-Injured bird. IF you get her clipped, you want a very minimal clip. Your bird needs to be able to glide to the ground withOut crashing. (That is the whole point - IF IF you clip - to give her time to learn to Stop Crashing.)

....mmm I don't know the correct terminology for that type of clip, the right words for which feathers. You can search it on this forum or else someone else may chime in with the name/correct description of it...

Again, work on taming her, covering windows, target training etc, and that is Probably all you need. But, if she Continues Crashing, then, a wing clip could indeed be the safest choice. AS LONG as it is an even clip, of the type that leaves her fully able to glide safely to the ground.

 

[Scott]

To answer your question specifically, clipping IS an option. It is better to avoid it if you can. Ideally find good ways to manage the flying and crashing - ideas already given here; along with, work on target training and taming, etc. Certainly Better If Safe, to not clip.

I think your bird should naturally be learning soon to not hit walls and ceilings, and thus Probably does Not need clipped. (Btw, how small is the room? Could that be any part of this problem?) Also curtains over windows can help with window-crashing, if she is not yet tame enough to do the window-tour.

However. IF with some work you are not able to train/manage the Crashing... a Clipped Bird is Better than a Badly-Injured bird. IF you get her clipped, you want a very minimal clip. Your bird needs to be able to glide to the ground withOut crashing. (That is the whole point - IF IF you clip - to give her time to learn to Stop Crashing.)

....mmm I don't know the correct terminology for that type of clip, the right words for which feathers. You can search it on this forum or else someone else may chime in with the name/correct description of it...

Again, work on taming her, covering windows, target training etc, and that is Probably all you need. But, if she Continues Crashing, then, a wing clip could indeed be the safest choice. AS LONG as it is an even clip, of the type that leaves her fully able to glide safely to the ground.

Completely agree, clipping is an option if bird is in grave danger. I'd recommend the "real estate tour" as mentioned, perhaps a "light" clip in lieu of literally grounding your young macaw. As with many things in life, absolutes are too limiting.

At slight risk of thread hijack, I have only clipped for behavioral issues. One of my hand-fed Goffins became extremely hormonal and nippy after 15 years or so. Took her to the vet for well-check, no issues of note. CAV recommended light clipping and a bit of "shunning" following hard bite. Worked like a charm! Feathers grew back, flight restored, she remains one of the sweetest of my flock.