Clip or not?

[Molcan2]

I know this is always up for debate on this site, whether to clip or not. My M2 came to me as a shredder, she only did her chest. I decided to allow her flight feathers to grow out, I thought it would help develop some independence. Her previous home had her clipped for 14 years. I didnt even consider that it would cause her to shred more (although I should have, since they are so sensitive about themselves physically). One wing she has left mostly alone and her flight feathers have almost completely grown in, the other she is 'clipping' the feathers herself. Oh and she started shredding her back . My question is if anyone has had exp with this before when allowing feathers to grow back in. Im not sure if I should just let them be or if I should just keep them clipped. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[roxynoodle]

I've always let my birds have their wings and haven't had any problems with things like them leaving the room or dive bombing anyone. That being said, my amazon was clipped by his previous owner and is still getting his wing feathers back. So I'll just have to see what he's like. I suspect though that maybe he's been clipped his whole life and may not know how to fly, at least at first.

I admit it does open up possible other problems like them flying out an open door. But, I'm the only one who lives here, and if I have people here who are going in and out all the time, I leave them in their cages for their safety. Usually though I only get that if kids are here.

You can always try to leave the bird unclipped and see what it's like.

 

[MikeyTN]

I don't like clipping as it can introduce problem with feather destruction. But im facing an issue with my U2 doing dive bomb. That can be pretty dangerous. You can allow them to grow back and see what happens first. Im giving Java a bit more time. For now im closing the door so he doesn't do fly attack towards my partner.

 

[MissyMe83]

I don't have any experience with Too's so I don't know that I have any suggestions, but was she at all starting to fly around? Did she start to realize that she had the ability to? I think letting her flights grow in would be a distraction from the plucking if she was able to realize it and do a little exercise with her new ability. Did you try doing some practice runs between you and a partner? A gentle toss from one to the other, so she could get a feel for flying and then develop it from there? From what I understand it's the actual activity that helps to distract from the picking/plucking. Not that it matters, but my personal opinion is not to clip...unless there is good reason to (aggression, hormonal aggression, etc).

 

[Tammy]

I can't speak for Too's, but My OWA was around 11 yrs old when I got him & had been fully flighted his whole life. I liked having him fly around & we'd play tag & stuff, but when he started going after my children as well as attacking my mother I had him clipped. He was actually hunting down my mother to attack her anytime he heard her voice. It didn't matter if she was on a different floor, etc. (We have 4 floors) If he heard her speak he would fly up or down stairs just to get her & would yell "Hurt Hurt" before he landed on her head.

I must say I like having Mr. Precious clipped. I can take him from room to room with me & not worry that he will go after someone. I was going to let his wings grow but I think it would be great in the summer to take him outside with me everyday & not have to battle with the harness/leash. Not being flighted he has had to rely on me to tell him & show him where it's acceptable to be & has helped me regain some control in the relationship.

 

[roxynoodle]

I can't speak for Too's, but My OWA was around 11 yrs old when I got him & had been fully flighted his whole life. I liked having him fly around & we'd play tag & stuff, but when he started going after my children as well as attacking my mother I had him clipped. He was actually hunting down my mother to attack her anytime he heard her voice. It didn't matter if she was on a different floor, etc. (We have 4 floors) If he heard her speak he would fly up or down stairs just to get her & would yell "Hurt Hurt" before he landed on her head.

I must say I like having Mr. Precious clipped. I can take him from room to room with me & not worry that he will go after someone. I was going to let his wings grow but I think it would be great in the summer to take him outside with me everyday & not have to battle with the harness/leash. Not being flighted he has had to rely on me to tell him & show him where it's acceptable to be & has helped me regain some control in the relationship.

Oh my! It's not funny, but it kind of is. If it was a movie I'd be laughing. I can just picture this amazon flying up the stairs, yelling "Hurt! Hurt!". I'm sure it was not at all funny though for your mom and children (or you).

 

[Mare Miller]

Tammy, your OWA sounds a lot like my U2 when he's on the hunt. Amigo likes to hunt down my oldest son, when he's home. Although Amigo has full flight capabilities, he prefers to jump down to the ground and chase my son around the house, he looks like a chicken after a grasshopper! My son looks like a grown man, screaming like a little girl! I try not to laugh as I pick Amigo up and put him in his cage...end of story.

 

[MikeyTN]

Tammy, your OWA sounds a lot like my U2 when he's on the hunt. Amigo likes to hunt down my oldest son, when he's home. Although Amigo has full flight capabilities, he prefers to jump down to the ground and chase my son around the house, he looks like a chicken after a grasshopper! My son looks like a grown man, screaming like a little girl! I try not to laugh as I pick Amigo up and put him in his cage...end of story.

ROFLMAO!!!!! That's what Java does.....lol....

 

[Mare Miller]

hi Molcan2, when I allowed Amigo's flight feathers to grow back, he played with them a lot with his beak but I have never seen evidence of shredding. I've always wondered if, because birds are so highly sensitive, if these issues are a neurosis, I think they are.

 

[Tammy]

We made the mistake of laughing about hunting down my mother. It started with her folding a blanket & he got scared & attacked the blanket. She thought it was hysterical, kind of like bull fighting with a bird. But it wasn't long before he stopped going after the blanket & started going after her regardless.

One day he flew into the kitchen to get her & she grabbed a metal mixing bowl & put it on her head as a helmet, then grabbed a towel from the laundry basket & covered her face. She went screaming from the room & I just about peed myself laughing.

Does anyone remember the Frazier episode when Niles has a Cockatoo stuck on his head? Pretty funny episode.

 

[MikeyTN]

We made the mistake of laughing about hunting down my mother. It started with her folding a blanket & he got scared & attacked the blanket. She thought it was hysterical, kind of like bull fighting with a bird. But it wasn't long before he stopped going after the blanket & started going after her regardless.

One day he flew into the kitchen to get her & she grabbed a metal mixing bowl & put it on her head as a helmet, then grabbed a towel from the laundry basket & covered her face. She went screaming from the room & I just about peed myself laughing.

Does anyone remember the Frazier episode when Niles has a Cockatoo stuck on his head? Pretty funny episode.

Yes I remember watching that on Frazier....Your story is too funny!!!!

When Java did the fly attack towards my partner, I did not encourage it nor did I laugh about it. I know it can be pretty dangerous. I picked him up and put him straight into his cage and told him no. He started calling for me and I ignored him. He gets it now and is finally nicer towards my partner as my partner is the one who feeds Java. Same with Willie. They learn to tolerate my partner, but they rather be with me. That is one thing I never do is tolerate bad behavior. Of course we laugh about it later on, but not during the time when it happened. But yes some of the stuffs they do is way too funny to watch....

 

[Mare Miller]

Is there any way to free flight your bird? I see that you live in Florida, maybe an outdoor aviary might make a difference with his behavior.

 

[lene1949]

I think, if the bird has been clipped for that many years of his life, that the longer feathers might annoy him, and he has no idea what to do with them...

If it was my bird, I would keep them clipped, especially since he seems stressed, when the feathers grow out.

 

[roxynoodle]

We made the mistake of laughing about hunting down my mother. It started with her folding a blanket & he got scared & attacked the blanket. She thought it was hysterical, kind of like bull fighting with a bird. But it wasn't long before he stopped going after the blanket & started going after her regardless.

One day he flew into the kitchen to get her & she grabbed a metal mixing bowl & put it on her head as a helmet, then grabbed a towel from the laundry basket & covered her face. She went screaming from the room & I just about peed myself laughing.

Does anyone remember the Frazier episode when Niles has a Cockatoo stuck on his head? Pretty funny episode.

Yes I remember watching that on Frazier....Your story is too funny!!!!

When Java did the fly attack towards my partner, I did not encourage it nor did I laugh about it. I know it can be pretty dangerous. I picked him up and put him straight into his cage and told him no. He started calling for me and I ignored him. He gets it now and is finally nicer towards my partner as my partner is the one who feeds Java. Same with Willie. They learn to tolerate my partner, but they rather be with me. That is one thing I never do is tolerate bad behavior. Of course we laugh about it later on, but not during the time when it happened. But yes some of the stuffs they do is way too funny to watch....

I remember that episode of Frasier as well. We still watch it once in awhile because my conure has a crush on Kelsey Grammar. She sings the theme song, too.

That is a great story though, Tammy, and it would have been very hard for me not to laugh. But, MikeyTN is right about that; you must try not to laugh when it happens or you will reinforce the behavior. I know you know that, too, but if anyone else is reading this that doesn't, hopefully it will benefit them.

 

[Molcan2]

You guys make me laugh with those stories. She has had no aggression issues, as of yet (hopefully never). When she first came she had 6 feathers on each side clipped and was still a decent flyer (not getting much lift but able to maintain height from one side of the house to the other). From what I have learned from Toos is that they are very capable flyers even with full clips. I appreciate everyone's input. My plan is to one day free fly her (years down the road) and have an aviary large enough to make a zoo jealous (hopefully sooner than later). The free flying makes me nervous after the post about the hawk trying to eat Joe through the window. We have some very large red tails but the aviary is going to be a definite go. I think maybe she is so used to not having them that she thinks she isn't supposed to. I think what I am going to try to do is allow them to grow one or two on each side in at a time and slowly work up to having full flight feathers. I think I was a little over zealous and wanted them in all at the same time. The last thing I wanted was to cause more shredding. Another lesson in patience I guess.

 

[Mare Miller]

Let them grow, why clip slowly? Amigo's feathers came about all at once and for him it was like a miracle! I can fly! I can fly! Yay!!

 

[Molcan2]

Okay, I'll give her a month or so and see how she does. Maybe she'll just get used to them and start leaving them alone.