Time for a wing clip?

[natv]

I've only had Kiwi for about a month. He's 8 months old. His wings were clipped when I got him but I don't know how long ago. I don't want him flighted (well I do in some ways, but I just think it would be too dangerous.. I can see my husband forget the door open, or a hot pot of water on the stove..)

So anyway.. for those who also clip... how often do you recommend?


And since I happened to snap this picture the other day! Based on his wings now, is he due for a clip yet?

thanks
Nathalie

 

[MarciaLove]

once fully grown feathers come in you cab clip and they wont grow anymore I clip after all their old wing feathers have dropped and the new ones are fully in because if the new ones are still growing then you will catch a blood feather when clipping the pic you have of your bird his wings are totally clipped he doesn't need another clipping yet. Because of spring though lots of birds are molting and one of my lovebirds wings is close to being ready to clip again but she hasn't dropped quite all her feathers yet and her new ones also haven't quite grown fully in.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

No he's not ready for a clip yet.

 

[sodakat]

Somewhere between a year and 15 months he should begin molting his large feathers.

Like Marcia said, you don't want to clip a blood feather so you should wait until he's regrown all of them.

Can he fly a bit now?

 

[natv]

Thanks guys

He's just been a bit more courageous... I wouldn't call it flying. I think he just has more confidence now. When he jumps from his cage or perch he lands better than before (I used to always worry if he hurt himself landing). Lands a bit smoother now.

This is my first parrot (and first bird) so I don't really know what to look for in terms of new feather growth, molting..etc. he's been losing some gray fluff this week which is new.

 

[Joshuwaaa]

what a great picture!

hope your both well.

 

[drlisaort]

I was told by my breeder to clip every four months. Oliver had his first wing clip when he was four and a half months old. I was on one of my weekend visits (before he came home) and he literally flew out of the breeders hand all the way to the end of the room. It was time! I think flying down from any height is what you want to avoid injury but if Kiwi flys up without assistance from gravity it's time. Oliver is also dropping little gray puff balls. Our babies are growing up!

 

[natv]

Kiwi was at the top of his cage today and was thinking about possibly jumping down, then he started flapping his wings (as if to test if he can fly) but realized he wasn't lifting at all so decided not to jump, lol.

He has jumped from there before, guess he just chickened out today

 

[sodakat]

I was told by my breeder to clip every four months. Oliver had his first wing clip when he was four and a half months old. I was on one of my weekend visits (before he came home) and he literally flew out of the breeders hand all the way to the end of the room. It was time! I think flying down from any height is what you want to avoid injury but if Kiwi flys up without assistance from gravity it's time. Oliver is also dropping little gray puff balls. Our babies are growing up!

This would be for adult parrots only. Juvenile birds don't begin to molt their large feathers until they are approximately a year old. So if he was clipped at 4 months, at 8 months he would still have the same feathers, which were already clipped, and most likely the same feathers would still be present at 12 months.

Once they *start* molting the primaries, if you intend to keep them clipped, *that* would be the time to check every 4 months. The reason is, birds don't molt all their flight feathers at once. If they did they would be grounded and this would be dangerous. Instead they molt a pair of feathers, one on each wing in the same location, then another pair, etc.

IMO, if you intend to keep your bird clipped it makes sense to check for new primaries once a month.

Be sure not to clip partially grown feathers because they are blood feathers and clipping them will result in bleeding.

 

[drlisaort]

Oh gosh Sodakat, so are you saying I do not have to clip Oliver until he is past 12 months old and from then it would be every four months? Or are you saying he should be clipped every month until he is one and then from that point every four months? Thank you in advance for valuable information!!!!