A Good Read on Wing Clipping

[Lacewing]

I put this health forum because the practice of cutting a birds flight feathers effects their overall health and wellness.

Flock Call - Clipped Wings

 

[SailBoat]

A truly well written, heartfelt statement on what occurs physically and mentally when flight is withdrawn from a flighted Parrot!

Thank-you!

 

[Scott]

Excellent article and very worthy post!!

 

[Lacewing]

I wish everyone would read this, especially breeders that insist on wing clips.

 

[SailBoat]

I wish everyone would read this, especially breeders that insist on wing clips.

Also include Pet Store (especially the big box pet stores) and rehomers also!

. My auto spell correction what's to change rehomer into reformer - interesting!

 

[SharlenaSharlena]

Thanks for posting this amazing article! After speaking to our avian vet about how clipping the wings not only reduces the lifespan of your bird by half but also creates a negative disability for them since they are dependent in the wild on their flight I made the decision to not clip our birds wings and it really has been a wonderful thing for them. Birds are meant to fly, and although in some circumstances for their own safety wings may have to be clipped, if they don't I don't think people should do it. Thanks for posting this, I had somewhat of an idea of what it does to their self esteem but this really helped open my mind.

 

[riddick07]

I met Kathy recently. She was great fun and very logical when discussing parrot issues/ideas. She fell a little in love with one of our long time greys at the shelter. I would recommend going through some of her other articles. Especially some of her recent discussions of people often being the real problem when it comes to behavior issues.

 

[SilleIN]

I live on the other side of the Atlantic. To be honest we are horrified that wing clipping is the norm, rather than the odd one out. Here the majority of birds are fully flighted.

That said, I have once clipped one of my birds. He kept flying high speed towards the windows. He was then slightly clipped, so he could still fly, but not gain full throttle. He learned the windows were not openings and was never clipped again.

That is to explain, that the only reason for clipping IMO should be done for the benefit of the bird and not for the inconvienience of the owner by a fully flighted bird.

I compare wing clipping to amputating a dogs leg to prevent it from running away. No one would consider doing that. I therefore don't understand anyone doing that to their bird. On top of that, birds respiratory system is buildt up of a set of lungs, but also 9 air sacks, who are reliant on the movement of wings to function properly. By clipping birds wings you are effectively giving your bird astma (long term effect). In Denmark no Avian Vet will ever clip a wing. I know of several times where my vet has ordered a bird into anesthetic and pulling of all the clipped feathers to make the intact feathers grow.

Sorry for my ranting, but this subject is very close to my heart. If my ranting would deter just ONE person from disabling their bird, I am very pleased.

It makes me SO happy, that this forum promotes fully flighted birds.

 

[Lacewing]

Kathy has a new book out on sale at Amazon. I am reading it now and I is just full of her wisdom.

The older (3 weeks) budgie Murphy has almost completed re growth of his flight feathers.
They were originally cut by the breeder against my expressed wishes. The babies do not get a chance to fledge. Murphy has no confidence in his flying. He gets winded with short flights and has no landing skills whatsoever. I am in close observation when he is flying to prevent injuries. He does not know where to land yet and heads back to what he knows - the cage. He will improve in time I am sure but no companion bird should have to go through this because a human thought it was a good idea to cut a babies flight feathers. Mickey has not dropped any cut feathers yet so his turn is coming. It is a cruel practice to cut any birds flight feathers for any reason.

 

[Anansi]

Let me cut in here a bit. As many of you know, I believe in keeping my birds flighted. I concur that there are many benefits, physically and emotionally, to doing so. But that said, I want to remind everyone to please be mindful that there are other members on here who do clip their birds' wings. Please refrain from painting them all with a broad brush or using words like cruel.

One person I know, for instance, began clipping because one of her birds broke his neck while flying full tilt through the house. She was heartbroken by this and sought to protect her other birds from the same fate. Another decided to resume clipping after her bird crashed into a wall so hard that he was rendered unconscious for a few minutes.

Now, consider for a moment how either of these two people must have felt in the instant of impact. One having lost her bird, and the other fearing that she had and fully blaming herself. I submit that neither of these two people should be considered "cruel" by any stretch of the imagination.

Want to hear something funny? A woman (and fellow ekkie parront) who used to live across the street from me once told me that I was cruel for keeping my Eclectic Duo fully flighted. She felt that it was inevitable that my birds would crash into a wall and die, and that it would be my fault. I appreciated her point of view, but I certainly did not appreciate the classification. I acknowledged, of course, that a flight related injury is always a possibility. I strive to minimize the chances of one occurring through constant training and vigilance, but the possibility, however lessened, is always there. I liken that chance to the possibility of one of my children being hurt as they run around. I do all I can to protect them, but ultimately I have to let them run. But that's my take. She was free to disagree, so long as she did so civilly. And I, in turn, spoke civilly about the health benefits and joys of fully flighted parrots.

My point? Most of the members here love their birds dearly, and want what is best for their feathered friends. But we won't always agree on what exactly is best. But as a community, we need to strive to respect each other at the end of the day.

I've written this post because a friend of mine felt somewhat judged after reading this thread. So I just want to ask that we remain mindful four fellow members, and how our words might affect them.

 

[Scott]

Wing clipping is indeed a sensitive issue. I'd hope one makes the best decision for their companions based on a thorough understanding of a wild animal's needs vs the potentially hostile environment of captive life. We're here to assist the process in non-judgmental fashion unless there is clearly abuse.

ParrotForums does not have a stance on free flight, and the eponymous forum is provided to consolidate discussion. One can read other commentary throughout the forums as a balance to help form an educated opinion!

 

[SilleIN]

Let me cut in here a bit. As many of you know, I believe in keeping my birds flighted. I concur that there are many benefits, physically and emotionally, to doing so. But that said, I want to remind everyone to please be mindful that there are other members on here who do clip their birds' wings. Please refrain from painting them all with a broad brush or using words like cruel.

One person I know, for instance, began clipping because one of her birds broke his neck while flying full tilt through the house. She was heartbroken by this and sought to protect her other birds from the same fate. Another decided to resume clipping after her bird crashed into a wall so hard that he was rendered unconscious for a few minutes.

Now, consider for a moment how either of these two people must have felt in the instant of impact. One having lost her bird, and the other fearing that she had and fully blaming herself. I submit that neither of these two people should be considered "cruel" by any stretch of the imagination.

Want to hear something funny? A woman (and fellow ekkie parront) who used to live across the street from me once told me that I was cruel for keeping my Eclectic Duo fully flighted. She felt that it was inevitable that my birds would crash into a wall and die, and that it would be my fault. I appreciated her point of view, but I certainly did not appreciate the classification. I acknowledged, of course, that a flight related injury is always a possibility. I strive to minimize the chances of one occurring through constant training and vigilance, but the possibility, however lessened, is always there. I liken that chance to the possibility of one of my children being hurt as they run around. I do all I can to protect them, but ultimately I have to let them run. But that's my take. She was free to disagree, so long as she did so civilly. And I, in turn, spoke civilly about the health benefits and joys of fully flighted parrots.

My point? Most of the members here love their birds dearly, and want what is best for their feathered friends. But we won't always agree on what exactly is best. But as a community, we need to strive to respect each other at the end of the day.

I've written this post because a friend of mine felt somewhat judged after reading this thread. So I just want to ask that we remain mindful four fellow members, and how our words might affect them.

I for one have not used the word "cruel", but my comparison to amputation might have hurt someones feelings.

I did mention myself, that I had once clipped a birds wings for his protection and that I am all for. Having tried it myself, I then don't understand, why these parronts don't do clips, that still make them fly, as I did, just prevent them from going full trottle.

I understand that every person is entitled to their own opinion, I therefore also wish to be entitled to my opinion; 1. that any clipping of any bird has to be for the benefit of the bird and 2. it is not beneficial for any bird (unless handicapped) to never fly. As I know clippings can be done, where the bird still retains some flight ability, just not their full ability, I don't understand why anyone would want to clip their birds to the point, where the bird drops like a stone.

Again this subject is very dear to my heart and I spend MANY hours flight training all my birds and I have first hand experience how flight can heal a "broken" parrot- body and soul. It also is my best "weapon" against hormones and will still be one of my first advices for puberty and other "devilish" periods.

And I do accept people will continually clip their birds wings, but you can't make me like it.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h-KReqTW_M"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h-KReqTW_M[/ame]

 

[Anansi]

Oh, that video just made my day! I'd love to see more if you have them.

And yes, you are absolutely are entitled to your opinion. (Yours resembles mine, in fact.) Just so long as it is stated respectfully and with consideration for the feelings of fellow members. (As your post was.)

But I too get a thrill out of seeing my birds fly... as well as the joy it brings to the rest of my family as well.
[ame="https://youtu.be/qsk6nNVofZ4"]Aidan's training session with Jolly - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Lacewing]

Sorry if I offended anyone by using the word cruel. I tend to get carried away on this subject.

 

[SilleIN]

Oh, that video just made my day! I'd love to see more if you have them.

And yes, you are absolutely are entitled to your opinion. (Yours resembles mine, in fact.) Just so long as it is stated respectfully and with consideration for the feelings of fellow members. (As your post was.)

But I too get a thrill out of seeing my birds fly... as well as the joy it brings to the rest of my family as well.
Aidan's training session with Jolly - YouTube

I don't have many videos of mine flying outside, as I usually train alone, however this day, my father was there and filmed some short vids.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Itr6Q523wE"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Itr6Q523wE[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ptiNsU1cto"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ptiNsU1cto[/ame]

I do however about a million photos of my birds flying in indoor arenas:

It is great that both you and your family can train your ekkie It seems it is enjoyment for birds and humans alike :smile015::jumping40

 

[Anansi]

Great videos and pics! Thank you for sharing!

I used to think about free flying outdoors. Their recall (well, I should say Jolly's recall. Maya still avoids flying like the plague) is good enough at just about 99%. But once I noticed how many raptors eagerly patrol the skies in my area, that idea quickly got the boot. Jolly does make the most of every bit of space within my home, though.

 

[SailBoat]

Free Flight has never been even a passing want. Our skies are busy with Red Tailed Hawks. Right now, their babies are fledging. We had a proud mama encouraging her chick to fly in our backyard as she would bring food and place herself just far enough to be too far to run without flapping. Several times, the feet moved just above the ground. By the end of the day, that chick was clearly flying. Food as a motivation in a natural application!

Wing Clipping as a tool to reduce forward speed and increase the depth and number of strokes is a possible target for the Companion Parrot in a limited flight space. It provides mental and physical simulation both needed for a health and happy Parrot.

That said, clipping a fully flighted Companion Parrot to the state of a Dropped Stone is an invitation to a medical disaster. And, at the opposite end of this spectrum is the fully flighted in a very limited flight space with limited flight experience can have the same medical disaster.

The choices we make all have unintended, but anticipated results. This is the 'why' of have the Parrot's wings clipped is a procedure best completed by a Certified Avian Vet (CAV) or their Certified Avian Vet Tech (CAVT) that includes a detailed decision regarding the need for and the choice of the level of flight provided, all based on the current flight status of the Parrot.

The properly trained individual will remove only a few flight feathers with follow-up visits to adjust based on the strength of the Parrot and with time finding a trim that is best suited for the Parrot's good health and wellbeing.

Rebuff: CAV's and/or CAVT's are too expensive!!!
Counter Point: We are currently at 3 -1/2 years since the prior owner's of our DYH Amazon was given a 'Dropped Stone' Wing Clipping at PetSmart! At present, we are just over 5,000 USD involved in the medical service all driven by that event!

 

[Katu]

I have hawks in my area all the time. We have to protect our small dogs at times. I've always had flighted birds, but never had hawks as abundant and close (they sit on our fence at times). I feel like a modified trim might be helpful when I choose a bird. I would want it to be able to exercise and work on flight recall. Is that possible with the right trim? I would just want the chance to try retrieve my bird in the worst case scenario, before a hawk could take it out. I like knowing all the options.

 

[SilleIN]

(Un) fortunately there are no larger birds of prey where I live. There's a breeding pair of Falco tinnunculus on my neighbours barn. Even if I were to free fly my ekkie, a bird of that size won't be a threat to my birds. I have however promised my neighbour, that I will not fly my birds on his side of my property to not stress the kestrels.

My view on free flight might be somewhat different if I had larger birds of prey nearby.

I have hawks in my area all the time. We have to protect our small dogs at times. I've always had flighted birds, but never had hawks as abundant and close (they sit on our fence at times). I feel like a modified trim might be helpful when I choose a bird. I would want it to be able to exercise and work on flight recall. Is that possible with the right trim? I would just want the chance to try retrieve my bird in the worst case scenario, before a hawk could take it out. I like knowing all the options.

I would never recommend trying free flight with a clipped bird. If you are scared of birds of prey, a clipped bird will have a large "BUFFET" sign written on it as it's flight patterns would make birds of prey notice it's handicap.

If you do not have somewhere you can free fly your bird in relative safety, try taking it to a batting cage instead. That should give you the security of both protection from preditors and the fear of your bird flying away

 

[Katu]

Sorry if I was unclear. I said Flight Recall, not free flight. Flight recall in case the bird accidentally got out of the house, which for me is worst case scenario. It's too dangerous where I live to even attempt free flight with a small bird, which is what I'm looking at. Thanks. ETA: Perhaps I'm using the wrong terms. Basically come to me bird!

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