Wing Clipping

[sheenacl]

it depends on the situation, if your bird is in a cage and you let it out frequently, it would be a good idea to clips its wings so it doesnt escape, and so it cant injury itself by flying into a window or mirror ect, but if they are in an averie they shouldnt have there wings clipped so they can fly around and get to their food and water proply

[r2rusmc]

Whether or not to clip is a personal choice that only you can make. Just keep in mind that many a beloved and clipped feathered pet has been seen flying over rooftops. In my opinion the clipping of wings gives a false sense of security.

Me I've done both. My CAG has been clipped several times however at the moment he is not. He's loosing out because he's not taken outside as often since me getting a harness on him is not an option. He did have one on for a short while this weekend but I don't think the stress of getting him in one was worth it. Now I have to decide if I'm going to clip him again.

My first macaw, a B&G was fully flighted. I didn't have the heart to clip those magnificent wings. Besides he'd never flown more than a couple of feet to the ground. Well one day, while walking down the street with him he saw my eX in the yard and went to fly to him. I was totally caught off guard and obviously didn't have a hold on his feet like I thought I did. He went flying about 30 yards to my eX then he realized that he didn't know how to stop and he kept going. Long story short, we did get him back thanks to my eX being an excellent runner. He was clipped about 30 minutes after he took that flight.

He also was introduced to a leg chain. This was back in the 80's before that became a no-no. We never had a problem with the leg chain. In fact he'd hold his leg up to get it on because he knew that meant outside time.

Back to my flock now. No, no one wears a leg chain. Only one is clipped and that was before coming to live with me. They get outside time but only when wearing a harness until the aviary is put up.

My birds don't fly around the house, I'm very fortunate there. Yeah, they'll come off a perch to get to me when I'm sitting on the couch but that's about it. If they took to taking flights around the house, I'd be rethinking the free-flight thing again. Can't have mac stew.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that no matter what choice you make, you'll likely be debating it constantly.

[LadyJean63]

THis is an unwinnable argument, and like any it has several sides to it.

The first and most important thing to learn is that clipping really is the owners personal choice. Clipping or not clipping does not necessarily make an owner a bad person or owner.

but here is the thing:

Those who advocate clipping, the first initial argument they make is "oh it is the "thing that will keep your parrot safe.

The truth?

That's not so!!!

Truth is, that both the clipped and the unclipped do get hurt and also sometimes either no matter the circumstances can get killed.

If you don't clip: yes, escape through a window or door is possible or even falling into the toilet or a roiling kettle of water.

If you clip, and you have a cat, your bird might not be able to soar high enough to get away.

I'm sure there are more.

To train your bird is also an excuse to clipping

so here are some of my own thoughts, and my views:

yes, I make no secret whatsoever that I do not advocate clipping wings

My personal thoughts:

Clipping is for humans not birds.
birds were born with wings and were meant to use them.
Even if they do become injured or killed we are under obligation to let these creatures "be birds, and to fly whether it is out of doors or in doors while we do what we can to make their enviornment with us as safe as we possibly can.

There is also the unskilled, shops hire just about anyone to clip wings, and quite often they do a very poor job, and our clipped bird pays for it.

As for me, I refuse to clip for another reason:
I have a spiritual connection to the birds in my flock, and for the few times that one or some have ever been clipped which is "rarely," they seem to have that look in their eye. "mama, you did something to me. I don't knnow what because it didn't hurt, but you took something away from me. Do't you know I love you and I will come back to you.

And yes, sadly I have also been one to pay the ultimate price for not clipping wings. Our very first bird, a cockatiel, yes, he flew over a boiling kettle of water when he was very young. We were fortunate then that he got a slight burn on his little feet which we took care of immediately.

We had this free flying, "in the house, not outside, for seven happy years, and if I had clipped his wings after so many years I know for absolute certain that our bird would have been most unhappy, but yes, I did pay the ultimate price, and it did mean his loss.

On October 1, 2003, I forgot and left my sliding glass doors opened to let the dogs out to do their business, and was distracted enough to go to the back rooms for just a few minutes. when I returned I found him on the back steps, and when I leaned over to ask him to step up he flew over the roof.

We put posters up, called and called for him for two weeks or more. Lexi was an identifiable bird because he had a chain harness on him, "one my neighbor made so I could take him for walks outside.

I can't even begin to tell how much emotional hurt his loss meant, and hopefully someone found our strong little flyer, but he flew well enough he could have also joined a flock, and even though it's been years I still search the skies for him,

and yes if you live in Oregon and found a little grey cockatiel wearing a harness you have found our Lexington Alfonzo, and he would be 11 this year, and yes, we do want him back.as odd as this seems to tell you all of this, I tell it because I still have hope that our bird is alive and been happy, but he was very happy with us and very tightly bonded to our son.

So please if you do have information about him please make contact with me. We no longer live in Eastern Oregon, but we would still drive almost anywhere to pick up our tiel, but sadly for some of you, we do not believe in paying ransom. Hopefully if you have or know someone who has our tiel, "and yes, I do know this is way out on a limb because of the years, and we know it's possible to he might have died as well, we would really like to have him back and your friend or yourself would be willing to give him back to us without asking for money.

So it's really not a matter of who's absolutely right and who's absolutely wrong. There are some birds I know as someone explained to me that must be clipped because of a health condition. Their bird tended to have seizures, but for me, the birds, my birds must be able to soar just as any other bird would and because I choose not to clip I must and do accept the consequenses of having unclipped birds in my home.

So as most of you I'm sure will note this is an age old, and unwinnable arguement, and as a famous quote goes, I don't remember who said it but is used by The New York Bird Club it says

God created birds, and thought they were beautiful.
Man created cages because he thought birds were beautiful too

or something along those lines.

I tend to agree.

[fgrouell]

Depending on the age, and I'm goinig to assume the bird has already become acclimated to flight, clipping initiallly will lead to a greater dependency on you thus permiting bonding. After that I let mine grow out. Safety in my mind is related to survival, and flight is one of the most basic responses in nature. Even we have the fight or flight response. Sure would be hard to run on stumps.

[fluffy_stitch]

i had my ringneck clipped when i first got her but i decided to let them grow back because she was an aviary bird before i got her and while clipping her at first let me get her to tame down it also took away a lot of her confidence and i think it made her unhappy,she has been able to fly for the last two months and i think she is a lot happier now,when she was clipped she would still try to fly and end up hitting things and falling onto the ground a lot,my rosella was clipped too but she could still fly well enough to keep away from me even with all of her long flights clipped,i let hers grow back too and she loves flying,i am very careful about open doors and windows.

[hollmer]

I agree, clipping when done correctly is not painful for the bird(they pull there own feathers out) and when started as a baby they become quite content with other means of transportation(being carried for example) I started Clipping My Miltary Macaw when I got him over 13 years ago at the advice of my Avian Vet and I now have all my birds clipped. I do not recommend anyone clip there owns birds wings without being shown exactly where to cut by your avian vet.
My Macaws spend their summers outdoors and are extremely happy. I do not have to worry about them being startled and flying away. If they do get startled they usually just jump off their stands walk around on the ground and climb back up.

But don't assume there is no danger just because they are clipped. They can still jump pretty far. Two summers ago, My Military was startled by something and jumped landing right in my daughter kiddie pool which was over 10 feet away from his stand. It was a soft sided pool and he could not climb out and the water was about two feet deep. Had I not been right there to scoop him up, things could have went horribly wrong.

I live in New York state where 8 months out of the year it is too cold for my Birds to enjoy the outdoors, so when they can finally get outside I want them as safe as possible. I would never take a chance of them getting two excited and flying away. My birds sit on playstands and they regularly climb down and follow me around(we have a 27x30 Interlocking Brick Patio) the walking on the patio naturely wears they nails down, which means less times trimming and less stress.

I know people feel the best thing for their birds is to be able to fly because its natural behavior, but as one person stating in their post, we chose to put them in cages which is nothing like nature and this is exceptable but somehow ensuring their safety is cruel.

Parrots are like small children, you would never let your two year old son or daughter wander the streets alone, why would you take this risk with your feathered child.

Everyone has their own opinion but I can tell you 100% that my Birds are not any less happy because they cannot fly.

As KimM stated, there is a proper way to clip there wings to ensure they cannot fly away but they can still balance themselves and have some control if they get startled and fall. Do not attempt to clip yourself if you are not experienced and have not been shown which feathers and how short to cut. Good Luck and Keep your babies safe.

[theband9000]

OK so I have been reading for quite a bit and reading your points and I think in my situation. I am going to let my bird fly. I am going to train it with a harness and let it go outside that way instead of iliminating all flight. Thanks for the help.

[sootykitty]

If you haven't watched this heartbreaking story yet on YouTube, then you need to. This will give you an indication of why you should clip wings.

YouTube - Tui parrot missing free flying - don't try this

Also, here is another link that will let you know what might happen to your bird if he gets loose accidentally. Believe me, it happens. You think it won't, but so do many, many other heartbroken folks. This bird rescue, which I volunteer for, gets in many pet birds that get loose from their owners. Those found are the lucky ones. Most never make it.

Lost

Please think it through before you decide to clip or not.

[sootykitty]

Sorry, I forgot to mention this too. If your bird is dropping like a rock after he's had his wings clipped, then it wasn't done correctly. Only the first five to seven wing feathers should be clipped so that your bird can float down gracefully, but can't get lift. A good Avian Vet can teach you how to do this correctly. It is the safest way to protect your bird from injuring his breastbone and beak so he doesn't hit the floor (or something else) when he attempts to fly.

[loyallyroyal]

leaving them flighted is wonderful if you take the proper precautions:

show your birds the windows and mirrors around the house

these are also amazingly helpful
Stop Birds Flying Into Windows, Yard & Garden at old-fashioned-values.com

window clings are also cheaper and work just as well, plus make a nice decoration during the seasons until your bird learns where the windows and mirrors are

never lets your bird out with the ceiling fans on, have a no open door/window policy when your bird is out so dont have people coming in and out of your house (better safe than sorry).

bird proof your home, think what can a flying bird get into, maybe dont give your bird the run of the whole house, mine only has access to his room, the hall, the family room, and the kitchen.

use common sense, put your bird away when you are using the kitchen...
avoid those lamps that get really hot, if your bird landed on one it wouldnt be pretty, if your bird is good at oppening its cage put locks on

train your bird a reliable come (i use pine nuts as a reward) in case of an emergency, only take your bird outside using a harness or travel carrier,

give them a designated spot to relax outside of the cage where they can play, hang a boing from the ceiling ect. my boy likes to sit on top of the fridge with his toys

make sure there are no bodies of water they can drown in, ex. water in the sink, open toilets, bath water, ect.

if you dont have the time/energy to supervise your bird put them in their cage for their safety

Flying in my personal opinion is a great way for them to exercise, my bird isnt a huge flyer, he takes a couple laps around the house when I let him out and will fly to person to person, to his cage and to the top of the fridge