Clipping is of course a controversial subject for some, and it's truly a matter of personal preference.
My experience is this:
My first cockatiel came to me quite by accident. He was outside in my father in law's tree and flew down to him. He put ads up and in the local classifieds to try and find his home, after a couple weeks, no one claimed him, so he called me and asked if I'd like a bird.
I named him Chaco and he was a dear sweet bird. He talked a little bit and taught me TONS about owning tiels. I LOVED HIM SOO MUCH! All day I'd leave his cage open, he could fly about the house as he pleased and it worked great! I never considered clipping him because he was just a good bird.
Then one day, I was leaving to pick up my kids from school and on this particular day Chaco was being quite clingy to me, he spent the better part of the day on my shoulder, preening me, kissing me, telling me how pretty he was and I had to put him away so I could leave. He flew to the top of his cage, I was only going to be gone 10 minutes and knew he'd be fine in the house, so I didn't lock him in his cage. I grabbed my keys, opened the front door (as I'd done thousands of times prior) and I stepped outside and just as the door was almost shut, Chaco flew and landed on my head. I panicked because I was outside, in my panicked voice I said "oh no, oh, no..and just as I'd turned to walk back inside, he flew off my head, around the house and yard 3 times and landed high up in a tree, no chance of me climbing to get him down.
I had no choice at this time, I left and got my kids, when we got home we took Chaco's cage and put it on our roof with millet and treats. I talked to him and he'd talk back but wouldn't come down to me...this went on for 3 days. Then one day, I went outside and called him and he didn't answer.
I was DEVISTATED! I mean, some of us REALLY get attached to our pets and Chaco and I were very much bonded....or so I thought
It took me 5 years before considering purchasing another bird. I mean, I've lost many animals, cat's, dogs, fish, goats, horses and never have I felt like I wasn't ready to fill the void with another almost immediately...but with Chaco, it was different.
Jump ahead 5 years...I decided on a whim, I wanted a bird again...I had an empty cage and when the urge hit I literally flew down to the petstore and bought our Lutino Tiel...Chiquita. She was clipped when we got her, and I was deciding...clip or not clip as her wings were growing out...I dunno...she's just so good...then one day out of the blue, she flew off my shoulder and I think she suprised herself as much as ME with her speed and distance and she hit our bedroom window nearly knocking herself out!
Scared me soo bad that I immediately clipped her on the spot! Chaco had never done anything so stupid! LOLOL
Even though I had those 2 events...believe it or not all my birds are almost fully flighted right now and I know it only takes ONE freak accident and they could be gone...so I've been struggling with...to clip or not to clip, even still. Our conure doesn't prefer to fly, maybe he doesn't think he can yet, I don't know, but he prefers to climb all over us and walk/run everywhere. Our tiels only fly when startled, so I think I'm going to clip them because that's when accidents happen. However, so far if Chicken Little get's startled he just flys straight up and hovers around back to me and Chiquita usually flys for her cage....so like I said, I'm also struggling. I also know this is the time of year when doors/windows get accidently left open...not only from my kids but our neighbor kids too and the risk of another tragic loss is quite high in our current environment.
For me, I WISH I could feel more comfortable leaving them flighted...but I have a much better peace of mind with them clipped....so I think I just talked myself into resorting to the sissors once again.
Don't know if this helped or not, but I think it helped me.
Toni
