Taking a clipped bird outdoors

Alright, I just have to ask, since I see so many people on this forum doing it. Is it alright to take a properly clipped bird outdoors or not? I would never take my green cheek outdoors when he was clipped because I was told they can still fly away even when clipped, and I believe this. But I see so many people on here taking their clipped birds outdoors. Is it just the smaller birds you have to worry about because they are so much lighter? Or could a clipped Amazon/AG/Macaw also fly away? I'm just very confused by this and thought I'd ask. Maybe I'm missing something?

Both of my birds, a sun conure and a yellow naped amazon have clipped wings. I take them outside all of the time without a problem. I never leave them unattended while they are outside so that they can't get into anything and predators can't get to them. The sun conure is more interested in staying on my shoulder, and when I got my amazon, the vet said he was too overweight to fly :O My sun has never been carried away or picked up by a strong gust of wind, but she has gotten spooked and flown to the ground. As their flight wings are beginning to grow back, I keep and even closer eye on them. If I let them grow out, they will not be going outdoors without a harness on!

My too is very anxious so I don't take her out but I do take my Eclectus outside all the time without a problem. She stays on my arm and if I am crossing a road or in a situation that I'm concerned with her flying (even if it's just to the ground) I put my other hand on her back to keep her secure. I have heard of birds being picked up by a gust of wind however I think this may be more of a concern with smaller birds.
I certainly would never take an unclipped bird outside without a harness.
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"A fool and his/her bird may soon be parted" words that I will live by after almost loosing one of my galahs a few weeks ago, if you love your bird(s) I wouldn't suggest taking them outside without being harnessed, especially the little guys, the 30 seconds of horror that I went through probably took 10 years off my life.....lol
seriously tho, most birds will not survive should they fly off, most of us wouldn't place a child in the back seat of a car and drive off without belting them in, should be the same for our fids........


Bob

I take both my birds out. I use a carrier for small dogs to carry them while walking to the park. Then I let them out to play in the park. They are clipped and of course I keep watch for any danger. I am training them on harness now.

Bobby34231 said:

"A fool and his/her bird may soon be parted" words that I will live by after almost loosing one of my galahs a few weeks ago, if you love your bird(s) I wouldn't suggest taking them outside without being harnessed, especially the little guys, the 30 seconds of horror that I went through probably took 10 years off my life.....lol
seriously tho, most birds will not survive should they fly off, most of us wouldn't place a child in the back seat of a car and drive off without belting them in, should be the same for our fids........


Bob

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Just curious are they clipped?

Clipped birds can and do get away all the time, I have read many cases of it happening on other forums especially clips that are beginning to grow out and smaller birds. You have to ask yourself this question "is it worth the risk when a harness can be used or the cage put outside?"

A clipped bird stands much less chance of survival in the wild if it does get away.

madparrotwoman said:

Clipped birds can and do get away all the time, I have read many cases of it happening on other forums especially clips that are beginning to grow out and smaller birds. You have to ask yourself this question "is it worth the risk when a harness can be used or the cage put outside?"

A clipped bird stands much less chance of survival in the wild if it does get away.

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That's good to know. I've heard of lightly clipped or smaller birds getting away and of course they wouldn't survive in the wild..... it's hard enough for a flighted domestic parrot to survive. I feel like a very bad mum now, shadow is always out and about without a harness.

Good question that shows we all do this differently. I do not take my bird outdoors except in a carrier because you just do not know if some of these places like parks put down pestacides. Where I live there is weed killer put down 2 times a year. I do however take Rosie on my balcony but again in an enclosed carrier. It is wonderful when you can take them out to fly under supervision.

Bobby34231 said:

"A fool and his/her bird may soon be parted"
most of us wouldn't place a child in the back seat of a car and drive off without belting them in, should be the same for our fids........


Bob

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Well said Bob

Need we say more !!!!!!

Thanks everyone for your responses! Just to make it clear, I will never take a clipped or flighted bird outside without a harness. My avatar shows Cody in his flightsuit back when he was completely clipped. I just don't see it as worth the risk, but since I saw so many doing it, I figured I'd ask to see other's opinions. Thank you!

Just curious are they clipped?[/QUOTE]

ok, well heres the stupid story, or better yet, the story of stupidity, I've been handfeeding my Galahs for the last couple months, I like my babbies to fully fledge before clipping their wings, It was just about that time when a friend of mine, whos also into birds came by, we were discussing it and he asked me if I ever heard of the technique of clipping just one wing, I said huh?, he said yeah, it gives them an uneven feel and they fly right to ground because of this feeling, I said no, I've never heard of it, so he says yeah I've been using it and it really works, so with great hesitation I give it a try, keeping in mind that I've been doing this over 30 years and I really should have known better,anyway,before clipping the one wing the birds had been taking small flights in the house, after the clipping, sure enough they did fly to ground after taking flight,fast forward a couple weeks, had some friends come over to visit and I figured I'd show off the new babies,instead of putting my dogs up and bring everyone in I brought the birds outside...one got startled and flew off a friends hand,but DIDN'T fly to ground,instead flew down the street,I have to admit the uneven flying part of the new technique was true because the bird was flying in a large awkward circle down the street and then back over the house then towards the other end of the street and back again till finally spoting a large tree across the street, and I'm thinking theres no way I'm getting the bird out of that tree if it lands there, luckily for me the bird overshot the tree and came to ground where I was able to run and pick it up, to make a long story even longer...If it ain't broke, don't fix it, when it comes to tried and true methods stick with what you know, don't let moronic friends talk you into something against your better judgement....by the way, the answer to the question, they are now FULLY clipped,and will not be going out unrestrained again, from what I now hear Galahs are extremely strong fliers even being fully clipped ( the correct way )......

Bob

One wing clipping does sound like a terrible idea....I'm glad all is well!

Thanks Sharon, me too

SharonC said:

One wing clipping does sound like a terrible idea....I'm glad all is well!

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Funny I remember years ago bought a cockatiel from a pet store and he only clipped the one wing. The bird still could fly around no problem. Kind of a waste of paying 15$ for clipped wings.





As for taking your feather friends outside. I take Kiwi out with me often. He is clipped and has been for two years. Once I let them grow in a bit when he wasn't being taken out but we just clipped him again couple months ago because he loves to be with me. He sits on my shoulder or likes to walk around the back yard. I don't take him places with me. Maybe it is stupid of me but I never leave him outside alone. He is always content with being with me. I tried to put him up in a small tree in my yard once but he flew right down and nipped at me like I was crazy for thinking he would enjoy being in a tree.

I've begun taking Alcatraz out on our balcony. His wings are currently clipped, but he has begun molting... so his outdoor time will soon be restricted to his carrier.

I attended a Phoenix Landing seminar a few months ago in which the speaker was adamant that all birds should have an outdoor aviary. The rationale seemed to center on reducing the risk of losing your bird. A bird that is used to the outdoors should be less likely to become startled by outdoor noises and more likely to find its way home.

I take me keet on walks with me everywhere. To the store, the mall, flea market, my little bro's soccer games. She loves it. He wings are clipped. So she doesn't fly. She will be spooked if there's a huge gust of wind and will cuddle as far as she can in my shirt. It's adorable. Some people think I'm a pirate when they see me with her! LOL

i take my Sennie out all the time. she sits on the deck with me on her perch and stays right there. i also take her camping and allow her to explore some (safe) low hanging branches within easy reach. she has a blast and boy does she blend in with the green leaves! i'll post a pic when i get home.
i am always with her and she is clipped.

i used to have my amazon outside with me as well, she loved to be with us!

i think clipping wings is the best idea, if your bird is fully flighted and you are dumb enough to take them outside unrestrained, it only takes one car honk or a gust of wind to send your baby flying far, far away. you will be lucky to ever find them again.