Thread: Wing Clipping
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Old 07-06-2008, 04:55 PM
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r2rusmc r2rusmc is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Ohio
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Whether or not to clip is a personal choice that only you can make. Just keep in mind that many a beloved and clipped feathered pet has been seen flying over rooftops. In my opinion the clipping of wings gives a false sense of security.

Me I've done both. My CAG has been clipped several times however at the moment he is not. He's loosing out because he's not taken outside as often since me getting a harness on him is not an option. He did have one on for a short while this weekend but I don't think the stress of getting him in one was worth it. Now I have to decide if I'm going to clip him again.

My first macaw, a B&G was fully flighted. I didn't have the heart to clip those magnificent wings. Besides he'd never flown more than a couple of feet to the ground. Well one day, while walking down the street with him he saw my eX in the yard and went to fly to him. I was totally caught off guard and obviously didn't have a hold on his feet like I thought I did. He went flying about 30 yards to my eX then he realized that he didn't know how to stop and he kept going. Long story short, we did get him back thanks to my eX being an excellent runner. He was clipped about 30 minutes after he took that flight.

He also was introduced to a leg chain. This was back in the 80's before that became a no-no. We never had a problem with the leg chain. In fact he'd hold his leg up to get it on because he knew that meant outside time.

Back to my flock now. No, no one wears a leg chain. Only one is clipped and that was before coming to live with me. They get outside time but only when wearing a harness until the aviary is put up.

My birds don't fly around the house, I'm very fortunate there. Yeah, they'll come off a perch to get to me when I'm sitting on the couch but that's about it. If they took to taking flights around the house, I'd be rethinking the free-flight thing again. Can't have mac stew.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that no matter what choice you make, you'll likely be debating it constantly.
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