Jake...to flight or not to flight?

[Chariclo]

Some of you know that I added a Blue Crowned Conure- Jake to my household earlier this year. He came to me with his breast and back feathers chewed and some what I would call "nervous" behaviors. He had been shunned to the guest bedroom of his owners when their baby arrived. Diet consisted of the cheapest seed on the market. No toys.

I had initally had him clipped so that I could work with him, and gain some control as he would flee whenever anyone got too close. His diet is varied now with fresh veggies, meat, breads, pellets and seed - and he gets a homecooked meal everyday. This greatly improved his feather quality, however he was still chewing.

Anyway - his flights have recently grown in, and this little guy has had a major turn around. He was a talker before, but now his vocab has trippled. He was handleable before but now he's extremely social with everyone in the house - including guests. Supervised of course - he is allowed to fly around and visit with anyone in the room, explore and get exercize.

He's just soooooo happy! And best of all - he hasn't chewed at all in a couple of months - and he looks beautiful! Coincidence or not - I am thrilled.

I know there is a lot of controversy about whether to flight or not, for good reason, but I had to share this success with all of you. I can't guarantee that he won't chew ever again, but I am amazed at what a difference being fully fighted has made to his spirit.

[Joel]

Amen........

[mamalovesrico]

Congratulations Melissa. That's gotta make you feel good. Glad to hear he is well and not chewing.

[TacDiver05]

That's great!!

[The Outlaw]

Melissa:

If you can count on your family taking great care in making sure he's protected while out of his cage and that are very careful about closing doors, keep toilet seats down and keeping him out of the kitchen, he may well do beautifully fully flighted. Its usually about human error when flighted birds die from accidents. Be especially careful with hot cook tops, uncovered pots and of course things like open flames. Oh, please be sure to cover any fish tanks with screens. Way too many birds die in acquariums when their curiosity leads to disaster.

[Chariclo]

Yes Nancy - your words are well taken. Precautions are a MUST!
I have actually taken on his discarded nervous behaviors as my own now!
I check, recheck, and check again that these things are all taken care of - BEFORE letting him out.

[LMPego]

Melissa-
We decided to keep Cory flighted after her "baby" clip grew out. It made a huge difference in her confidence level. Then, of course, we had to let little Zen be flighted so she could escape her sister!

[TacDiver05]

Not to highjack the thread, but this does bring a question for me...what about birds that have never been flighted? Can they be taught?

[Freedomoflight]

Depends. My caique was never fledged properly ( you could throw this guy across the room and he wouldnt fly, LOL) and he refuses to fly. Oh sure, he will hop and then use his wings for a little momentum, but not true flying. I started doing flapping exerises with him, and the flight feathers that grew in, some of them fell out, I thin kbecause he has never used his wings, so he has lack of circulation in his wings cmopared to babies who have fledged. Anyways, other birds that have not flew and you want to let fly, you just let them grow them out, and see what happens. But *usually* the case is they dont really know they have wings because they have never used them before.

[LMPego]

Our Zen was kept clipped for 2 years before we let hers grow out. She will fly if she has to, but she still prefers to walk (much more dangerous to have a lovebird on the floor than in the air, believe me!)