To clip or not to clip

[Franciscus]

I was just wondering what peoples' views here are on flight feather trimming. My two biggest birds have a moderate clip, Razz will fly at a slight downward angle, Caillou straight. Tota has an extremely minor clip just to slow him down a touch but he learned to fly just as well as before which is fine because his is very well behaved. I had all my birds flighted for a while but things got out of hand when Caillou would divebomb Razz, and Razz would fly to me and land on my shoulder all the time while I was painting (Tota does the same but it makes a difference between itty bitty Tota and 1025 gram Razz). I find it works in my situation because: A. I don't have young kids opening doors constantly and B. I don't beleive in taking birds outside, clipped or not, without some type of enclosure or harness (except perhaps those that have been taught free-flight early in life but that's a whole other topic). I'm also a firm beleiver in the recall and that bird have a better chance of making it home safely if they have learned to fly and land properly if they do end up outside.

[Crebain]

My bird is kept clipped at the breeders suggestion, and I fully agree that Pogo is much safer this way.

[LMPego]

Both of ours are free flighted (indoors only). We used to clip them both. We let Cory grow because she was such a shy baby and we thought it would help build her confidence. Now I couldn't imagine taking away her ability to fly.
We stopped clipping Zen because I was afraid she might get stepped on. I feel that she is much safer being able to fly away from Cory, too.
I know some people are really adamant about clipping or not clipping, but I think so much depends on how things are in your own house. We also have no kids or people opening and closing doors and we are very aware of where everyone is if we are cooking or running a bath or opening a door.

[The Outlaw]

If I lived in an aviary, they'd be unclipped. Since I don't, they are.

THE OUTLAW

[Takoda]

depends on the bird... the majority of my untame birds are clipped simply because it makes them easier to put back into their cages (my birds get free time outside their cages if possible). My lovebirds and parrotlets are not clipped because their cages are large enough for them to fly in and I'd rather they get to fly in their cage than be clipped and just wander around on top of it. My tame birds are all flighted (with the exception of my quaker, it's illegal in ohio to have a flighted quaker), unless they start misbehaving or having attitude problems (ie catch me if you can). In which case I clip only as often as necessary to keep them under control. It's pretty cool to have a flock of cockatiels flying around the birdroom! I'd say most people are unable to have their birds flighted, however. It's a lot of extra work, worry, and mess.

[dyeman]

I am admittedly contradictory on this issue. I recommend to all my customers that they keep their birds clipped and I clip wings and nails for free. However, all my birds except Ozzie are fully flighted and I don't intend to clip Ozzie when he finishes his molt. My plan is have an outside aviary to let my birds play in during the summer and I am talking something on the order of 30' X 10' X 8' covered so that they can fly and play.

That said, even if I didn't have these intentions, I would leave them fully flighted because I think they are more comfortable and confident that way. It bothers me the first time I clip a bird and he tries to fly and gives me that look like I have just betrayed him. Its inconvenient sometimes and requires more care and thought, but I think my birds are happier for it.

[smallonion]

I understand all the good reasons for clipping, and Humphrey has been clipped twice. Now she is flighted. One of my main reasons for this was the last time she was toweled at the vet to get clipped, she reacted very badly. She was so traumatized that she didn't come out of her cage for 2 weeks. I will not put her through that again. I live in a small apartment and have no children, so I feel my house is a bit safer for a flighted bird than some other situations would be. I am on the fence about clipping her. She seems to enjoy flying around the apartment - sometimes she just does laps! My husband is now totally against clipping. He's even apologized to Humphrey, "I am so sorry we cut your flight feathers. We had no right!" I had her clipped in the beginning because she was very shy, and was told it might help me tame her. I do understand the safety issue and would want to kill myself if she ever escaped.

[Vankarhi]

I actually started a thread very similar in name on another forum (to clip or not to clip that is the question). The forum i soon found out was a fully flighted one and I felt I was being shot down in flames for saying I clip my birds. I must admit, I was tempted to not clip Skye and to let Bo's feathers grow out. But I have no training in this area of birds and have never seen it done in real life either. I feel much safer clipping my birds and they do get out time in the house or in the yard with me. I am allowing Bo's wings to grow again, in anticipation of getting an aviary built, but I have been waiting a long time already.

[Franciscus]

Sounds like folks here are thinking about the subject. In the magazing "Bird Talk" writers are usually adamant about clipping (I think). It's more common in the US to clip birds than in Europe (including Great Brittain) and I think it does depend on the individual bird, as well as the bird's current situation. I hope to be able to have both Razz and Caillou fully lighted again at some point because I think flying is great exercise. Although they don't fly much in the house, there is SOME benefit and I have taken Razz to fly in a school gym. I would like to get a group of people together, make sure all their birds are tested for the diseases they have tests for, and have "fly days" in enclosed areas, at least once a week. As I have said, Caillou can fly in staight lines right now so I exercise her by having her fly to her boing from my hand repeatedly untill she gets winded several times a day. Razz exercises a lot on her own (she's VERY playfull) and I swing her around to get her flapping often untill she is winded. Tota zips around the house a LOT, It's a joy to see him flying around.

[The Outlaw]

Frank:

Don't get me wrong. I'm guilt filled when I clip them, but I have to for everyone's safety. I just got a mental image of me allowing the macaws a free flight in a local gymnasium. I can see all of them hanging from the highest ceiling fixture telling me to "step up". They like me to come rescue them. Its fun!

THE OUTLAW