wing clipping

[lilmama]

I just read Monica's post on wing clipping http://birdboard.com/forum/showthrea...=wing+clipping
and found it exeremely informative but I do have a few questions. How often do the wings need to be clipped? Tuc had his wings clipped in may when I got him but now he is beginning to fly. I usually keep the top of his cage open when I am home (which is most of the time) and he has been flying off the last couple of days. Yesterday he flew right at me when I was cooking so I shut him in the cage till I was done.
If I need to clip them again which clip would be best for a sun conure? I really hate the look of clipped wings but he just won't stay on his cage anymore and I do NOT want him to get hurt. I have never done it myself but watched the breeder do it. She cut the bottom 4 feathers in half on each wing. I am kinda nervous to do it myself but the nearest avian vet is over an hour and a half away.

[Monica]

Neither of my conures are clipped. Noel can't fly to begin with so there's no point in clipping her anyway. Charlie on the other hand has only started to learn to fly again so I'm not looking to clip him anytime yet, but may in the future. I myself though prefer the quill clip, as it leaves the least amount of irritation where-as any other clip (such as the half clip) can leave the ends of feathers sharp and can bother the birds flights. Also, it's good cause you don't have to clip as many feathers with the quill clip than with some of the other types. However, if I were not to do the quill clip, I'd go with the half clip since it provides support for new feathers growing in (which works great with clumsy birds).

As for how often wings ought to be clipped, generally 2-3 times a year. However, inbetween clips they should get at least 2 weeks of flying time so that they can build up muscles.


Have you thought about getting a transportable play gym? Charlie has one, and when I'm sitting down busy he normally stays on his gym. However, if I get up he automatically comes after me! Haven't been able to teach him to stay yet, but I still love the fact that he can fly to me! Of course, if I have to cook or otherwise, I put him up.

[The Outlaw]

I inspect my birds once a week for new growth. Most birds can grow wings out in less than 2 months. Even if they are slow to grow, they will have enough new growth to get airborn in that timeframe.

[MrRick]

Please explain the quill clip as I am not familiar with the term. I use the half clip method all the time with my flock but I'd like to know more about the quill clip.

Thanks,
Rick

[Monica]

It's explained in my article...

Quill Clip: The quill clip cuts the primary feathers at the quill, or shaft of the feather. It should be below the actual feather, and near the skin. If properly done, this clip allows a bird to glide down, and should not leave any sharp ends to irritate a bird. The only con is that there may not be any feathers for support if a new feather were to grow in… however this is consistent with most all types of clips.

http://birdboard.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28340

In short, it's cutting the feather close to the skin of the birds body, below where the feather barbs start.

[Mothi]

I assume birds need clipping after molting or when they grow new feathers? I have yet to experience this with Yazhi, but I can't recall way back when about clipping my birds wings.

I would let him fly a little between clips though. Teach him some confidence and proper landings. Some birds get clipped by their breeders even before they learn to fly, so between clipping, let them learn.

Yazhi gets 5-6 primaries clipped from outside. Not sure what it is called. It is not a halfway clip that I have seen before, but down further for least irratation. He glides well and can fly a decent distance still. The amount you clip will depend on your birds ability to fly (some fly better than others) and personal choise. If in doubt, clip only a few at a time and see how you like it for a while. Or have a vet do it but ask them how they will clip his wings before they do it. I had them clip 2 outer feathers of yazhi's wings to start when he learned to fly well while fledging. I asked them to explain what they are doing before they do it and to do it in front of me. This way if they are not giving a clip I feel comfortable with, I can at least stop them immediately, but they gave the clip I liked.

[lilmama]

What about blood feathers? How can you tell which ones are?. When I was looking at Tuc's wings I noticed that his 1st 5 or so primaries are cut but there is one right in the middle of the cut feathers that is not cut. Since I saw the breeder cut them all I am going to assume it grew in.

[Monica]

Blood feathers are easy to pinpoint, and if there IS a blood feather within the wing, at least 1 feather around the blood feather should remain unclipped until the feather has fully matured...






Pin feathers, are essentially, miniature blood feathers, as they supply the smaller feathers with blood. These are not normally broken as they tend to be well protected by other feathers around the body.