Okay, so you're going to get lots of views, unless this topic has been overly worn out.
If the bird never learned to fly, clipping it's wings isn't going to make it depressed. you can't miss something you never knew existed. However, trips to the vet for wing grooming will make any bird stressed, but you have have to ge their nails done anyway, so it's an unavoidable trip.
Clipping a bird will not prevent it from flying, unless you get an extremely horrifyingly short cut, which is not recommended because it's dangerous. If you get it so short the bird can't fly, chances are when your bird needs to glide or fly from a high place when off balance or scared he will instead plop to the ground and probably hurt his leg or wing.
A clipped bird can fly at least 20-40 feet, if not more. The only difference is it's much more energy and harder to maneuver.
A flighted bird can be trained on how, when and where to fly, such as on command or in designated places. It's actually fairly simply, esp. if you plan on keeping them inside (that eliminates training for surprises- weather, predators, etc).
If you clip your birds wings you can always grow them back. It may take 6 months to a year or even more to be fully flighted again, but you can gauge at what you can handle. If the bird starts flying bat crazy when his wings get at a certain length, clip them.
Special cuts allow for birds to fly so far or only in circles etc.
Flight allows for exercise which is much needed.
Flight requires supervision and training. Birds don't just know how to fly or land, it's like teaching a kid to walk.
I'm personally for it. I believe they were given the ability to flight for reason- in fact birds are the only animals that fly,as far as I'm aware, so that's a gifted talent meant for them to have. If they weren't meant to fly they wouldn't have wings and the ability. Once birds get the hang of it there's a confidence increase and more of a pep in their step you can say.
I think it's safer too, as long as you're trained. I have lost my RFM while free flighting her because I didn't train her for flying in wind- and low and behold a great gust of wind came and blew her into a tree. Luckily I got her back. Had I properly trained her it wouldn't have happened.
A properly trained bird would do fine flying, in fact, if a flighted bird was loss or just flying outside or walking around in the grass (versus a clipped) and a predator came, I know that my flighted bird has a chance to make it. AN unclipped doesn't. It can't fly as fast or as far and it's hard to maneuver.
Plus the amazement from their first flights is wonderful and then watching them hover and fly straight up or down at such steep depths or over a glistening lake is breath taking.
But this is your personal decision. Flighted birds require more supervision and lots of training. Clipped don't, but flighted allows more exercise.
