Partial flight wing clipping

[Gizmomania]

I've always felt sorry for my duskies who can only drop to the ground when attempting to fly. I'd like to do a partial clip once their flight feathers come in this spring, but don't know which ones to clip that would allow them to fly slowly to the ground. Any tips on how to do this will be greatly appreciated!

 

[aliray]

Please do not clip just one wing. what ever you decide to clip on one side clip an equal amt on the other side. If you clip just one side you throw the bird totally off balance. they have no control at all.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Also a one wing clip will mess up your birds muscles, one side will be stronger than the other.

You should let their wings grow in, allow 2 weeks of flying/flying practice then take off a few feathers while leaving the last finger feather unclipped.

 

[Gizmomania]

Will that allow them to partially fly? Right now their feathers are so severely clipped that they drop like little weights to the ground.

I wasn't planning on clipping only one wing, but wanted to make certain that when their wings need clipping again, it would be in such a way as to allow them to fly a little bit as they slowly glide to the floor, if that makes sense.

 

[MonicaMc]

If you trim the secondaries, it will slow the bird down but not hinder flight.

Secondaries and primaries should never be trimmed together.

Most clips advise trimming the primaries so as to prevent flight.

The cyan/light blue shows the "half clip" method. This allows for some flight if not trimmed too far down, as well as giving support for new feathers growing in. If the bird can still fly well, you trim a littler further back.

The yellow line indicates the "show clip". It's trimming primaries 1-7 and leaving 8 or 9-10 unclipped. It's supposed to make the bird appear "natural" and may, or may not allow the bird flight.

The green line indicates the coverts (or quill) clip. You trim either just below the feather lone of the coverts, or at the base of the feather near the skin (not too close, though!). With this method, you'll want to trim 3-4 of the outer flight feathers on each wing, then see how well the bird flies. If the bird flies well, trim another one on each side until the bird can glide down.




Have you ever considered flight training them indoors only?