Catastrophe avoided... just a reminder...

[Adi]

Oh boy... hubby and I are laughing now but we sure weren't when it happened...

Where should I begin? Well, first of all, I've been scarce these last few weeks for a very good reason. The construction of our very first home is now completed and we've been in the moving process! So for quite some time now, we've been packing, unpacking, cleaning, finishing our basement, recieving family and guests...... Basically (hate to use the expression but...) running around like chickens with our heads chopped off!

We've both been quite exhausted but hubby has been really overdoing it... on top of the whole move, he's been extremely busy at work. For those who didn't know, he's a police officer... so when duty calls, you can't really say no! For the past month, he's worked overtime, double shifts, the "graveyard" shift, and barely had a day off.

So anyway, poor hubby has been walking around in a sleepless daze lately. One of the best comforts he has is our little cheerful Sunny, so yesterday he took him out, put him on his shoulder, and began doing some odds and ends around the house. I came into the room and seen him sitting on a chair with a wide-eyed stare on his face... All he said is "he could have got away"

Turns out hubby opened the patio door to take something outside.... with Sunny still out on his shoulder. This was quite terrifying to me since my aunt recently lost her lovebird in the same manner. Luckily he realized what he was doing after two steps and quickly turned around.... Sunny had a very short taste of freedom...

Maybe Sunny wouldn't have flown away, but I still consider myself quite lucky. So I just wanted to remind everyone the importance of being aware of what we're doing, at all times, when our companions are around us.

It could happen to anyone and sadly, we could probably all name someone that we know who's birds have escaped.

[jmphysics101]

That is something i'm terribably paranoid of. I hung a bead curtain on the doorway near the bird room. It's annoying, and I don't know that it works 100%, but if a bird was flying toward the door, it would at least break their flight a little.

[ParrotletLover]

Adrienne, I'm so glad things didn't take a turn for the worst. Another reminder of how important it is to know exactly where your little fellows are at every given moment.

[Samm]

Exactly the reason why all my little fellows have their wings clipped!!

[carriesb]

I have nightmares about my birds getting out. I just saw a flyer a few weeks ago looking for a lost tiel and I've heard that sometimes even if there trimed they have gotten away like my budgie he just can't get alot of lift when he's trimmed but he can still fly fast and also with him one day he'll be barely able to fly and then it's like his wing feathers grow back overnight and he's flying hi again. So I'm totally paranoid about that also. And it's so easy to forget when there on your shoulder or out of there cage.

[SWhite]

Took Jack outside a couple of weeks ago, thought his wings were still clipped, just been through a molt. Put him in a tree, turned around, and off he went, Couple of houses down the street, about 20ft up in a tree in their back yard. Took a glass of tea (his favorite treat) and about an hour to coax him down. Needless to say he got his wings clipped when we got him back to the house. Thought we were going to have to call the fire dept. to get him down. Jack was just as scared as we were.
.....Shea

[Skyebirdsmom]

Now I SWEAR I don''t want to start any debate, BUT, there are 2 views about clipping/not clipping. Yes I do believe in clipping for safety's sake, but, on the same hand...IF the worst happens and they DO get out....if clipped they can't even defend themselves by not being able to fly away...UP and away. Sighhhhh, sometimes I wish no one had ever decided it was smart to keep a bird as a pet. Too many moral decisions. But then I'd have been deprived of the incomparable relationships of the 6 birds in my life. Sighhhhhhh
Linda & Skye~

[Peregrine Harlequin]

Originally Posted by Skyebirdsmom

Sighhhhh, sometimes I wish no one had ever decided it was smart to keep a bird as a pet. Too many moral decisions. But then I'd have been deprived of the incomparable relationships of the 6 birds in my life. Sighhhhhhh
Linda & Skye~

Instead of keeping pet birds, feed wild ones in your yard. Once they start to associate you with good things like food and water, you can start training them. Mom's had chickadees land on her hands for seeds before. I think with enough effort it might work with other birds, too.

And for those of you who prefer your birds clipped, I think the gray squirrel would make a marvelous "fair weather friend"....

[Tiki]

I think unclipped wings are the ideal situation, that's the way birds are meant to be. But you do need to be able to offer them complete security-screens on all windows, no kids leavng the door open, gated yard so the can't sneak past you if someone comes to the door unexpectedly. Not many people have that kind of security in their homes. You also have to consider ceiling fans as flighted birds can fly up into them. My birds are only allowed free flight within their own room and the bedroom which is AC not a ceiling fan.

[PawsN'Claws]

Originally Posted by Tiki

My birds are only allowed free flight within their own room and the bedroom which is AC not a ceiling fan.

Tiki I have been thinking I may not reclip wings but how do you safeguard that they don't fly into a closed window?

Karen