Clipped my conures wings last night, feeling a little sad now

[jenniferag]

We have 2 conures and when they scream like crazy we cover them until they calm down, but now since both are flghted one of them will fly away when we try to put her back in her cage..... we "chased" her around the house last night over and over (calmly talking to her) but we couldn't get her back in.....

that and other reasons that she'll fly to me every five seconds and she bothers out other bird..... BUT now I'm feeling guilty.....

I clipped her little by little so she could get used to it.... but now I feel bad because she LOVED to fly around in circles and now she can't..... I'm hoping she'll go back to playing on her cage and then sitting with me.

We could take her outside with us again to so I'm happy about that... but... the look on her face just seemed sad to me last night....

hopefully I did the right thing...... she can still flutter, she doesn't plumit but..... *sigh*

[mel64511]

I think you did the right thing. She could have got hurt when you try to put her back in the cage and if you really feel bad when they grow out hopefully she will be a little better with going into her cage. Dont feel too bad shell get over it :)

[Jwhear]

One note, please be careful bringing them outside. Even clipped birds can get enough lift to take off. They can't go as far but can get in serious danger. Many have lost "Clipped" birds.

[jenniferag]

yeah, I will be careful. The only place we take her is up to the laundry room in our complex... there are buildings on both sides with no where she can really get to.. but of course I will be REALLY careful!

Thank you!!

[usamma]

I'm sorry. It's hard when you do what you think is right, but you can't make everyone happy. I'm sure your bird is much safer now.

After rescuing a stray budgie and seeing so many ads for lost birds, I don't feel too much guilt at clipping Moki. I do feel some though.

[Eliza]

It's tough, I know...

Pickle came to me with a modest clip (4 flights trimmed, I believe) and I let them grow out. He started flying a bit more in the last month or so, which was neat to see. But... I'm in the process of reorganizing/cleaning my apartment and I just felt better having him clipped until I have everything situated how I'd like it. I felt SO bad when he tried to fly after the clip. Don't get me wrong: the vet did an EXCELLENT job but Pickle looked at me like, "MOM! Why'd you do that?"

You have your parrots' best interests at heart. They'll adjust, I'm sure.

[Lyndsay]

I cried when I first clipped my birds wings, but it was so much better to be able to take her around the house without her spooking and flying into the wall. She exercised more too, by following me on foot and becoming more interested in the ground below her.

[jenniferag]

awww.... you guys made me feel better!

Since I clipped her she has kept to her cage more and played.... we still get a lot of cuddle time in because I can get dinner done and everything without her flying to me every five seconds and then I'll go get her....

my other conure is also WAY less stressed because she doesn't fly to her cage anymore to start fights... YAY!!

She's actually started playing with a lot of her toys again so I'm happy and I think she is happy.

Thanks you guys!!

[Monica]

Originally Posted by jenniferag

We have 2 conures and when they scream like crazy we cover them until they calm down, but now since both are flghted one of them will fly away when we try to put her back in her cage..... we "chased" her around the house last night over and over (calmly talking to her) but we couldn't get her back in.....

Although it sounds like clipping may be best for that particular conure, and it sounds as if things are working out, I just wanted to make a few points. Chasing a bird to get the bird back into the cage is counter-productive. If every time you must handle the bird, it's to get the bird back in the cage, this is also counter-productive, because the bird learns that every time it's being handle, it's a trip to the cage.

Instead, handle the bird, and perhaps put the bird on top of the cage - not in, on a playstand/gym, on a chair, etc. Wherever you put the bird down, offer a treat. If you put the bird in the cage, offer several treats. Reward the bird for behavior that *YOU* want.

More or less, instead of forcing the bird to do something, make it so that the bird *WANTS* to do it instead! Hence, treats! And if it's getting late, and it's time for bed, turn down the lights, make it darker, so thus it's time to roost. It may be easier to get your conure in a cage at this time. Be sure to follow with a reward.

Originally Posted by jenniferag

that and other reasons that she'll fly to me every five seconds and she bothers out other bird..... BUT now I'm feeling guilty.....

Sounds like she needs to learn to be more independent... get her to entertain herself so that she doesn't need so much one on one interaction.

Gotta say, I know the feeling, though! My mitred, Charlie, loves to pester me all day long! If I'm not in the same room as him, chances are, he's screaming his head off! One of his favorite ways of entertaining himself is to destroy paper products...

Originally Posted by jenniferag

I clipped her little by little so she could get used to it.... but now I feel bad because she LOVED to fly around in circles and now she can't..... I'm hoping she'll go back to playing on her cage and then sitting with me.

hopefully I did the right thing...... she can still flutter, she doesn't plumit but..... *sigh*

You can still exercise her by getting her to hop/fly to you on command and back. If you can teach her to "fly" to you on command, and on command only, this may help in the future should she ever become flighted again.

http://www.flyingparrotsinside.com/

[jenniferag]

Very good points you made Monica, thank you so much!

Things have been really good since the clipping, she can still fly a little but she's entertaining herself on her cage more and then she'll flap on the cage door when she's ready to come to me so I'll get her....

I've been putting her back on her cage at different points throughout the night and she hasn't run from me since the night I clipped her..... things are wonderful!!