To Fly or Not to Fly, There Is No Question

[FirstTimeBirdie]

Okay. Well, Regan is a flying MOFO...LOL One day she could only flap with no lift off, the next day I can't keep her on the ground. Her favorite landing spot? Yep, my head. She's so wily, I love it. My nephew was doing something in her room yesterday and she took flight and went straight for him, I never seen somebody move so fast, but she landed on him anyway. I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe.

I can't even get her to sit still to eat a full meal. She has a little bit and off she goes. It's hilarious. I'd really hate to clip her wings. Sebastian can't really fly, I don't know why, I really don't like it. I have to ask the breeder if she allowed him to learn before clipping him. He's always been unsteady, but I would think by now he would be better at it, I haven't clipped him again since I brought him home in August and his feathers are barely clipped anymore.

[Carbon]

I clipped Nara because she was being a brat like that and I felt that I needed to control it. She doesn't like it and I don't either, so we're not going to clip her when her flights grow back. It wasn't worth it after all, and even though she was only partially clipped and can glide down, the landings still cause her to break tail feathers every month or so (I don't have carpets).

[NotEnoughTime]

I clip to a "managed flight" level (based on this article):Managed Flight, Not Wing Clipping

During the summer when the risk of "flying away" is higher (because of doors left open and so on) I have a mild clip. During the winter my girl has full primary flight feathers. It is very fun.

Make sure you read gbirds sticky on the main discussion forum: To owners with FLIGHTED BIRDS...PLEASE READ **UPDATED**

[Carbon]

That's what I did. But like I said, because I don't have carpets, when she lands on the floor the momentum gets transferred into translational motion and sometimes she glides a little. When she had all her flight feathers, she could stop herself more efficiently by flapping in the opposite direction. If I had carpets, that wouldn't be an issue because she can brake using her legs. Anyway, she's high in her molt and hopefully the flights will start getting replaced soon. In the meantime, I always keep her on me when she's out of her cage.

[FirstTimeBirdie]

OMG, a few minutes ago, I had opened the door and walked into the kitchen, because she usually comes out and finds perch on my head wherever I am. So I hear her flying towards, I turn around and my shih tzu is standing in the bedroom doorway and low and behold, Regan tries to perch on her head instead, it was HILARIOUS. The dog couldn't get away fast enough.

[NotEnoughTime]

Originally Posted by Carbon

That's what I did. But like I said, because I don't have carpets, when she lands on the floor the momentum gets transferred into translational motion and sometimes she glides a little. When she had all her flight feathers, she could stop herself more efficiently by flapping in the opposite direction.

I have hardwood and don't seem to have this issue. She is clipped only to the point where she can "maintain level flight with some effort." Actually she could still fly "up" but only short distances. As a result she was quite capable of reversing the engines and stopping on our bartop and hardwood floors...

She actually slides further now that she's grown in three primaries on each wing... She practices her skillz landing on the bartop - and sliding quite some distance...

[sailorkelly]

I think Abbey would attack me if we had her clipped. She loves doing loops around the house.

[Carbon]

Originally Posted by NotEnoughTime

I have hardwood and don't seem to have this issue. She is clipped only to the point where she can "maintain level flight with some effort." Actually she could still fly "up" but only short distances. As a result she was quite capable of reversing the engines and stopping on our bartop and hardwood floors...

She actually slides further now that she's grown in three primaries on each wing... She practices her skillz landing on the bartop - and sliding quite some distance...

Perhaps mine is more slippey. I don't walk around in socks or I will start skiing around. She doesn't slide every time though, only when she flies a long distance (for example from her cage to the opposite corner) and decides to change her direction the last moment before landing.

[dmiller91]

nobody's had one go smack into a window?

I worry about that!

[xafsmom]

Every time babies fledge, I see one bap into windows. We have window decals up.. they don't care. They have no brakes. LOL