Wing clipping?

[Pinkstiletto66]

Do you get your birds wings clipped? Do you take them to a vet or do them yourself? Can you leave them with their wings uncut, and use something else if you wanted them out of the cage, but not flying all over? How often do you need to have them clipped. Thanks.

 

[tlouiselle]

The decision is up to you. Lots of people clip the wings in the beginning when they are working and bonding with the bird. It will all depend on what you would like to do. If they are not clipped you do have to worry about them flying outside and flying into things and getting hurt. There is no way to make sure they will always stay put because it is NOT a good idea to use any sort of restraint (they do make harnesses for if they are outside with you though). When they are clipped they are more likely to stay where you place them. I have an indian ringneck that I had to clip because after he learned to fly he was crazy. He was all over the place and hyper. I was worried he would get hurt. Even after clipping him he still finds his way around. If he doesn't want to be where you but him he will not stay there. Our eclectus just learned to fly and he only flys when he wants to be near you. I have not decided if I will clip him yet or not since he is very mellow and stays put.

I clip my own, it is very easy once someone shows you how. Since I don't have to bond or work with them I do not do a full clipping. I just trim a couple of feathers on each wing so that they can still flutter a little. They are less likely to get hurt if they fall down or need to get away for saftey. Lots of vets and pet stores clip wings. You should take your bird in to have it done and ask them to show you how they do it. You can then decide if you are comfortable to clip yourself because they can bleed if it is not done correctly. Honestly if I can do it, anyone can learn to do it. If you are nervous then just don't clip them as short and they show you

They feathers do grow back. When they molt and new growth comes in the new unclipped feathers will grow in.

 

[Lonnie]

I have mine clipped, and I do it myself!

 

[Spiritbird]

I thing the big difference in a home clip vs. a vet clip is that the vet takes the entire feather and the home clip is just the distal portion of the feather.

 

[Auggie's Dad]

I don't clip. It saves money and let's Auggie fly. But there are many risks with fully flighted birds, and one must be prepared and have the home even more 'bird-safed'.

Can you leave them unclipped and let them out without them flying all over? ... kinda'. Auggie generally stays right with me. It's nice if I'm going to another room, I don't need to pick him up or bring any specific perch - as soon as I go in the other room, he'll fly right after. But if he *wanted* to go somewhere else, he would. The only thing stopping him (or bringing him back when he does) is his training.

 

[IcyWolf]

Our Alexandrine has her feathers trimmed but our conure is flighted. I do the clipping myself, I used to work at a grooming shop and I handled all of the trimmings there too so I've had plenty of practice. It's really not that hard, it's just a matter of being taught correctly. Once you know how to do it and know how to identify blood feathers, it's a pretty quick process. If you learn how to do it yourself I would suggest being taught how to deal with a broken blood feather as well, just in case. It's a good thing to know anyway in case your new birdie breaks a blood feather on his own, I've seen birds(especially young ones) fall off of their perches while sleeping and break them, it's not a pretty sight! Billy is our first flighted bird and it has completely change my perspective on clipping and I hope to not clip ziggy anymore after she molts. It is a hard decision to make as there are pros and cons to both sides and I think it's something that needs to be on a bird to bird and owner to owner basis.

 

[Bobioden]

Maxx came clipped, and I think I will let them grow out and then decide if I will clip he again or let him be

 

[Pinkstiletto66]

Thanks for the lovely responses. Very informative.

 

[Deep]

Sonny my amazon is not clipped and will not fly around the house unless im there. I use a harness to take him out and honestly i think he is in better mood flying around. I tak e sonny out almost every where. He just loves being out and able to fly. He is coney island other attraction lmfao

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a61/Deepwater1214/2011-08-10-Boardwalk022-flying.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a61/Deepwater1214/2011-07-24-Sonny048.jpg

 

[oled]

My DYHA is wing clipped/trimmed and a freind is doing it

 

[lene1949]

I don't clip... If my birds ever were to escape I would want them to be able to fly...

I learned this lesson the hard way, when Cory got caught by the wind... I did find him a week later, and was very lucky he hadn't been attacked by a predator.. Due to him being clipped his flight skills and muscles were both lacking...

After I found him I wowed to never clip a bird's wings.

Here's a great article to read:

Project Bird Watch Library: Feathers, Flight & Parrot Keeping