Bad clip job

[KateMyshkin]

I was very surprised today to see my conure fly across the room. I’ve seen him “fly” from tall things but this was the first time he went up! His wings were already clipped when I got him and he hasn’t had a molt. I plan to keep clipping his wings until I become more comfortable and when the time is right if the household conditions allow it, I’ll let him become flighted. (Idream of tegu’s) I already noticed he had an “ugly” cut but I didn’t pay any attention to it until today. I was already calling it a chop job but I thought it’s doing the job so it’s what ever and I’ll just cut it nice and pretty next time. Oh, and sorry in advance for this post and all my past and future posts because I’m long winded and over explain. Today I finally got to look and I see that on one side he has the primary flight feathers cut 1-8, leaving 9&10 uncut and on the other wing he has the primary flight feathers cut 1-7 and 9&10 leaving only number 8 uncut. The advice I’m seeking here is should I just cut all the long ones so he’s balanced until the molt? And the conversation I want to start is how far can your birds fly with clipped wings? Because I didn’t know they could fly with clipped wings! I’m hearing stories that they can get up trees!

 

[KateMyshkin]

This is the only picture I can get so far, he won’t let me open a wing. I only get to look when he stretches.

 

[clark_conure]

I'm kind of a fanatic about this....I trim like I'm doing science.

You want your bird to be able to jump up in a panic and be able to rise about a foot , foot and a half at most then gently flap down. Unless your going for free flight. If he can get so elevation in the beginning he can turn a quick circle and land right back on your shoulder or the chair/couch etc.

Trim to little he can literally fly, trim to much and he can go splat.

I trim more or less even but I hit all the feathers some leave the furthest out, which is also fine. Neither way seems better or worse as far as I can tell, the way I clip a quick 180 back is easy for clark so he hasn't lost any control. When it's about right, it should look kind of like this. With a little bit sticking out. If a flight feather is to short to cut don't worry about it leave it be.

Then what I do is put him on a 3 foot bookshelf and back away, eventually he flies for it, and I can gauge his ability.

 

[MonicaMc]

I don't clip my parrots, not even my untamed birds. I enjoy it when they *choose* to fly to me of their own free will.

Since even clipped parrots can fly and become lost, I don't really see it as any safety. (adrenaline + good gust of wind = bye bye birdy!)

A clipped parrot might not be able to fly over to a dog (or cat) in another room, but likewise, if they somehow end up in front of said animal, they might not be able to fly away.



Add in the health benefits of flight, it only makes sense for me!



Sorry, that doesn't really answer your question!

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

Another flighted parrot parent here! I totally agree with MonicaMc, clipped birds can still fly off, and there are many health benefits to flight! Although, Kermit came to me very lightly clipped but can still fly across the room and gain a good amount of lift. The only way the clip affects him is that he can't maneuver as well (and therefore has flown into a window once) and he can't fly laps around the room like my other two.
Here is his clip (note the new feather growing in, so exciting!)
The pic is upside down, sorry about that