GCC clipped as a baby

[MrSebastior]

About a month ago or so, I adopted a green-cheek conure. The woman I adopted from got the bird (not sure of gender as there's been no DNA testing or anything) from her son. I'm just gonna refer to it as a girl from now on, i feel bad saying 'it'.

I reckon the woman's son clipped the wings, the wings are very poorly clipped.
I've never had a bird with clipped wings before, but I don't think you're actually supposed to see white stuff from where the feather was clipped, and some areas it looks like it's been torn off, as if the clipping tool was quite dull.

I didn't like how she handled the bird either, was chasing her around to catch her, came with the hands from above and whatnot, I told her not to do that.

Anyway, she's getting more and more comfortable with me, I don't wanna rush anything since she doesn't seem to have had the easiest upbringing. She's started eating and taking toys from my hands now and lets me come closer with my body when she's on the playstand, also lets me come closer with my hands now, I usually stop getting closer when I notice she's getting a bit anxious, then I hold my hand steady and let her decide when she's ready to come up and take the food or toy.

Getting a little side tracked here.
I reckon she's about 6-8 months old, she's starting to moult now, so her wing feathers oughta grow back out soon enough. My question is, do you think I'll have to teach her to fly, and if so, how would I go about doing so properly?

She can fly about a foot - 1½' now.

EDIT:
While i'm at it, whenever she's gone into her cage and i get close, she'll puff up her head feathers and stretch her neck out and slowly walk towards me and then make a trilling noise, then quickly move back to chirp and jerk her head up while touching the cage bars.
She does the same trilling noise when playing with her favourite toys and when I give her her favourite foods; apples and carrots. So I'm assuming it's a good thing, right?
But what does that gesture actually mean, with the neck stretching with puffed up feathers and slowly walking towards me?

 

[Allee]

You're right to give your bird time to adjust and come to you in her own terms. It sounds like you're making good progress with her.

It may take a few months for the feathers in the badly clipped wing to molt out and be replaced, but they will grow back. If your bird is trying to fly already, more than likely, she will be flying again as soon as enough of the feathers are replaced.

As you get to know your bird, you will learn to read her body language. Puffed head feathers is usually an indication of alarm or excitement, in most cases it's a warning not to come any closer.

Have you named your new friend?

 

[MrSebastior]

I read it could be territorial behaviour, but the trilling noise throws me off as that's what she does when she plays or sees me coming with her favourite food.
She does it when I've been gone for a while, before I even get to the cage as well.

Yes I have, Kiwiberry.

 

[Allee]

Very cute name! The trilling noise may be Kiwiberry's way of greeting you.

 

[MrSebastior]

Thank you! I'm pretty useless with names to be honest though, I used to have another bird called Kiwi, couldn't think of anything else, then I remembered seeing this video about kiwiberries and figured instead of stealing the name of a passed, beloved companion, I'd switch it up a bit.

That migth be it, yeah. I never thought of that, my past bird, a cockatiel who accidentally flew away after I cleaned the window, apparently it didn't lock properly, then it got proper windy and it just swung open. But he would greet me by flying to me and hump my hand.
He was such a funny little guy, went with me everywhere but outside.

 

[sammmy]

my gcc conure had poorly clipped wings when he was young (they were totally stripped down to the quil actually) a couple of vets didn't think he would ever be able to grow his flight feathers in properly meaning he would never fly, well. Just last month skittles began to fly. It was rough having a 11 month old bird in the house learning to fly for the first time. But we totally encouraged it and wanted him to learn. It took a little over four weeks to get where we are today and he now flies quite well. (still a little bit of trouble in the steering department but we're always supervising)

Now when we come home and open up his cage he comes out and makes sure everyone gets some love and then takes off and does 3-4 laps around the house. He lands on me after usually and fluffs up and screams in excitement. It's so adorable.

As for the fluffing up and stretching his neck tall, skittles does this whenever I have a friends over and he thinks they sit too close to me. I've read it is dominant behavior so I always try to discourage it by letting him see the people are not there to harm him or me.

Good luck!