Poll: How Many People Clip Their Birds?

[jenseits]

Whether or not to keep a bird flighted tends to be a pretty controversial issue, but I feel we've had some really good discussions on the merits of both sides, so I'd like to take a poll to get a better idea of what the breakdown is.

When I first contemplated letting Stewie's flights grow out, my bf said "that's a bad idea". He was with me when the folks at the shelter told me to clip him and then when the vet told me to clip him... so you see, because people in a position of authority said "clip" he just assumed that's what everyone does. In fact, he said (it was a statement more than a question) "How many people on BirdBoard don't clip their birds?" (He knows I'm a BB addict!) ... he was really surprised when I replied that it could be 50:50, but I didn't know.

So anyway, that's just a preface for my question: How many among you clip, how many don't?

[KimM]

I do clip my macaw's wings. Once I have an outside aviary built though, I will let him become fully flighted.

[Sashagirl]

All 27 of my parrots are fully flighted and will stay that way.

[Ashling]

When I got each of my birdies, I clipped their wings. Right now I don't think any of them are clipped; the budgie was a few weeks ago, but she can fly now. Ash had clipped wings until I let her grow them back- she is a great flyer now, at the moment I couldn't stand the thought of clipping! I don't know if I'll ever clip her again, but I'm not sure. I simply tape her wings with sticky tape when she comes outside, or to the shops. I take it straight off when I put her back in the cage, and she doesn't mind it at all. I tape the first 6 or so primaries which fully prevents her from flying.
My tiels are fully flighted and loving it :)

[kali]

i keep him clipped as i take him outside all the time and never want anything bad to happen to him!!

[MicahEspudo]

Originally Posted by Ashling

I simply tape her wings with sticky tape when she comes outside, or to the shops.

Is that safe?!?!

[sugarbeth]

Both of our budgies came to us clipped. The breeder clipped Tweeter right when we got him and at the time I thought that was best because he belongs to a 6-year-old. But I think it really screwed up his confidence and we're still working on trust. However, he did grow back two primaries right away and he can fly a little bit now. Chirp is a pet store bird and has been severely clipped from the get-go. He has a more difficult time getting around in their big cage.

Anyhoo, I like birds flighted. When their wings grow back out, I'm going to be setting up some play spots around the house so that they can fly to and fro. I'm now of the opinion that I shouldn't get a bird if I cannot at least provide a space to let them fly and be birds. I won't get my larger parrot until I have an aviary built in the backyard where they can spend the sunny days. (Which we probably won't get to until next year.)

[Muchi]

Unclipped :} Makes it easier to flight-train him when he can fly, lol
Though I do often find myself styling the latest in galah headgear...

[Syaoransbear]

Some are clipped, some aren't.

Are:
black capped conure, Bitey
Bourke's parakeet, bork bork
Woody, cockatiel

Aren't:
budgie, Crystal
budgie, Pip
budgie, Bathtub
Finch, Checkers

The first 3 I handle quite a bit, so there's a lot of risk of them flying away especially in the summer when I'm bringing them outside a lot. I usually bring them to a friends house too, so there's a huge chance of them somehow escaping even if I'm careful. In fact, on monday bork bork DID fly away. My dad spotted him with binoculars and we recaught him, thankfully. Such a scary moment. I felt bad clipping him, but he doesn't fly around in the bird room anyway. He only flies when someone is trying to get him. He's the biggest perch potato ever.

[Sprecker]

When I bought my first parrots they were clipped really bad and I had no idea. They suffered from my hard wood floors. From then on none of the parrots (9 now) I have will be clipped ever again. They are still clipped when I get them but when they grow back they will stay.
I find with my fids that they are more comfportable with the freedom of flight they have now. Plus there have been alot less injuries.