clip wings or not clip....question

[rope]

we are about 2 weeks from getting our tag...the breeder was going to clip his wings...we said no....we have a large area inside for flying...i have read parrots with clipped wings get to go more places...meet more people..what do you guys think? thanks

 

[JerseyWendy]

Here are some links for you.

This topic has been discussed countless amount of times, and it's one of the 'hot topics'.

http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/53512-clipping-wings-traumatic.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/questions-answers/51221-pros-cons-clipping-wings.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/conures...g-his-wings-until-today-now-i-don-t-know.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/new-mem...o-question-clipping-wings-vs-full-flight.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/questions-answers/44897-wing-clipping-bonding.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/37023-wing-clipping.html

 

[Velimir]

When I got my GCC, she came to me with clipped wings. I took her everywhere with me because the danger of losing her was not as high. She knew that she could not fly far, and so chose not to fly at all. I was confident that I would not lose her. It was nice to bring her places. She loves car rides. She loved the breeze. She loved the exposure.

Now her wings are grown in and she loves flying. But she will also sit at the window and look outside as if she is sad. I put her cage outside sometimes but it's not the same. She is one of my most precious birds so I do not want to risk having her get away and she will not take a harness -- I have been trying for months. It is sad either way.

I would recommend harness training your bird. Have the best of both worlds.

 

[Kiwibird]

I think it depends on the individual bird how they'd respond to clipping and if they "know" flight or don't. My amazon has always been clipped, and to our knowledge, never learned to fly. He has no concept of flight, but he does love going outside, riding in the car, coming out to run errands with me ext... and it would be far more cruel (at this point) to take away him coming out into the wider world than to flight him so he's stuck indoors. On the other side of the coin, my parents have 3 fully flighted birds who have always been flighted (except a brief period when I was a baby the cockatoo had to be clipped). They have never been outdoors outside of a cage, do not go "in public", hate the car, and their whole life is indoors. They are all talented fliers who love flying around the house every day. It would be beyond cruel to clip those birds.

It's a tough choice to make, but I venture to say, request the breeder doesn't clip and at least teach the bird how before you decide. It has always bothered me that Kiwi never learned but we didn't adopt him until he was 10 y/o and had no interest in learning, so we made the best of the situation by bringing him out a lot.

 

[labell]

Greys are one of the birds that I think it is most imperative that they learn to fly and land very well before you make the choice to clip or not. Most breeders will let them take one clumsy flight and then clip them I have seen this cause major issues later on.

The baby will be young enough that you can get him used to a harness or flight suit and then be able to take him out with you as well as allowing him to fly while home.

 

[rope]

thanks everyone....my next question is....is there a best flight harness? i think i'll have one hand before our gray comes ....i do want to be able to take him around outside....visit the farm animals...visit other people....maybe go fishing...thanks

 

[labell]

I only have experience with the Aviator Harness so no comparison with other brands but I think this one is well made and if worked with while young especially your bird should have no problems.