Badly clipped wing

[StarPilot]

Hi there,
I’m new on here but have been getting such a kick out of reading everyone’s posts and inhaling mass information about Conures!

I’ve had mainly cockatiels (I live in Australia) throughout most of my life (started with budgies) so after the loss of my last little boy QueeQueg at 21 years of age I decided I wanted a change in the type of bird (as he is pretty impossible to replace) so then I learned about conures.

So I have recently acquired a GCC after researching lots and I was just about to put a deposit down for a crimson bellied baby when a GCC appeared very close to where I live so I went to check him out. When I got there his owners wouldn’t explain why they didn’t want him anymore (he’s 10 months) and they were being so lax and uncaring and obviously didn’t give a **** about this poor bird (yelling at him to try to make him dance for me etc.) that I decided on the spot to bring him home and thought I could... at worst case find him a better home than them. They were not very nice people.

Well that was 10 days ago so have let him settle in and I have fallen in love with this little guy. He was biting them hard (and me) at their house but since being here he has been an absolute delight and we are making great progress in all areas. He now steps up and loves cuddles and makes these adorable purring noises and calls to me and other talking bits I cannot understand. He even gives my cats and dog some good attitude as they have come to check him out. He has fit right into my little family so easily that he is here to stay and has found his forever home. I love how he just suddenly appeared for me when I stared actively looking so it is all meant to be.

He also is loving eating fruit and veggies as they only fed him seed so he is in heaven trying lots of new things.

Anyway I trained my cockatiels to do various things so am looking forward to the potential with a GCC as I can surmise that they are so different and cheeky so the challenge is accepted.

I named him Bandit and he cannot fly at all and when he tries to get to me he falls like a rock so I knew his clipped wings were pretty extreme (as I used to clip my birds wings to various lengths depending on how much freedom I wanted to give them but they could always support themselves enough to not drop and damage their breastbone etc.).

Bandit has no flight at all. So I finally inspected his wings and to my horror one of them is cut so badly and so so short... it looks like they cut beyond the feather and into his actual wing. I don’t think this could be true but it looks shorter than anything I have ever seen. There is one feather poking through the hedge of his limited wing so hopefully the rest will grow back but I wanted to see if anyone can tell from the dodgy video I took. The other (better) side is still very short but has some blue feathers coming through as it has a whole other layer of feathers - he has no outside long flight feathers at all (the ones I used to cut with my cockatiels). I saw a post about clipping somewhere a few days ago with a picture of the feathers but I can’t remember where it was. (I have spent lots of time reading many, many posts!)

So I managed to take a video but it’s terrible quality (I should have done with a white background) but i don’t want to do it again as he barks a bit if I touch it in certain areas (very gently) so it’s obviously sore in some place and I live alone so can’t have someone else video close up while I hold him.

I’m attaching a photo and the video so if any of you can take a look and let me know what you think that would be great.

It certainly doesn’t take away from his gorgeous personality and doesn’t affect him much till of course he wants to fly. Flying is what a bird does right so just really hope he isn’t permanently damaged.

Thanks!
Skye.

 

[StarPilot]

I’m having trouble with the video so here is photo from the back where you can see the layers (missing) and the blue on one side and none on the other.

 

[ParrotGenie]

They are to short and to many, as you only clip the 5 outermost primary feathers on each wing and a 3rd of the way in length at best, but what more concerning is the fact he not preening himself? That one feather that growing in that has the long tube shaft and feather at the end on the first picture. He suppose to take the casing off of it that wrap around the feather. It is the that tube is a keratin casing. You can Help him preen that pin feathers and can also be a great bonding experience. You just have to lightly pinch and rub the casing off.

 

[Laurasea]

Starpilot! Poor Bandit!!! Extreme cut for sure, abdooks like they did a one wing clip. It can take a few months to close to a year for all feathers to grow out. But as he gets some his flight will improve. I'm not sure but you might lightly clip the other wing to give him balance??? I'm not sure of this advice so do research and see what others say.
I think the one feather that has come in is still tender and that's why he hadn't preened the shaft off yet, especially if it's still soft and has blood supply. I'd leave it alone it's doing a good job growing with out support of other feathers!
Congratulations!!!!! Thank you for this rescue!!! You were ment to find him.
Yes those GCC rule with that beak, I mentioned in another post they should be the hot conure species lol. They are snuggles, joy, clowns, then you bump a feather the wrong way and you are stabbed!!!

 

[MydearConure]

Congratulations and welcome to this forum. I am so happy you rescued Bandit, and he has now a good home. I had one just like him, and they are adorable and affectionate. My current GCC is a cinnamon conure and he had also a bad wing clipping. They chopped all the flight feathers and some of the secondary ones. I was upset because my poor GCC was not himself for few days. There have been a couple times he had fall and drop to a tile floor, but thanks God he is OK. He cannot fly at all, so, I carry on my shoulder and around the house, hopping that with the change of season he will molt and grow new flight feathers. Best of luck to Bandit!

 

[CallumConure]

Welcome to the forum! Congrats on getting a GCC! You'll love Bandit to absolute death. I've had Callum for almost three years and there's nothing that could replace him They are goofy little birds. Callum loves to sit on my shoulder and preen my hair or just cuddle up next to my neck. They also love to imitate the funniest noises.

People who give no disregard for their animal really, really bug me. I'm glad you got little Bandit out of there!

I got Callum from a breeder (a debate for another time) who clipped his wings correctly. It took just about a year to get his primary feathers to grow back out. In that time, Callum strengthened his breast muscles by hanging on the side of his cage or sitting on a perch and rapidly flapping his wings. He also, stubbornly, attempted to fly after me if I left the room (still does even though he's flighted now).

For now, try giving Bandit a ton of sunlight. He can either be in a safe little cage to soak up the sun outside, or set him in front of a window. Callum prefers to sit on a windowsill and watch everything, otherwise he tries to leave and go back to me lol. I also give Callum some added vitamins and minerals for feather growth.

As for helping "pop" the keratin casing on a pin feather, I feel like doing it on the wing (especially after a bad clip) will be very difficult. For now, I'd say expect some angry squeaks and biting you. Depending on how Bandit feels about it, feel free to pop the white shell on his feather. Be careful not to tug or push, though!

 

[ABirdNamedPetey]

Poor Bandit! Wow!! I don't really have any advice to add, but just wanted to say I'm so glad you got him! Now, at least, with your TLC and proper care he can recover from that overly extreme trim. I can't imagine how traumatic that must have been for him.

 

[bug_n_flock]

Wow.... I'm... wow.



I'm tearing up for the poor guy. Oh, thank you SO much for saving him!!!!!


I am a supporter of clipping in many cases, but this? This was a mutilation. That poor bird, I can't even imagine.



I think I would consider trimming the other wing lightly, but grooming may always be an uphill fight for this little one. Go it slow. I know if I'd been mutilated like that I'd fighte harder than an opossum in a sack to avoid it in the future.



I'd probably scramble up a plain egg and give him little bits for an extra boost as he is recovering from all that stress and growing new feathers. Are you offering any sort of probiotic? This is absolutely a case where I'd be offering those too.



From phone

 

[bug_n_flock]

Oh, and PLENTYY of baths I'm sure would be appreciated

 

[StarPilot]

Thanks for all your caring responses and advice. It’s appreciated.

I’ve tried touching the one feather and it’s definitely sore and hurts him so I might leave it for awhile and see what happens. It certainly doesn’t seem to bother him the rest of the time.

He has had a few baths and loves them so will keep that up and get some extra vitamins and probiotic and also offer the egg. Anything to keep him healthy and hope that the feathers grow over time.

Thanks all!

 

[Samara]

Hi, and welcome!

I too live in Australia! I have a cinnamon turquoise green cheek, named Lola. She also had a one-wing clip and a badly damaged tail (that is still growing in). I took her to the AV and they clipped the other side. They did explore the option of replicating wing feathers on the clipped side... but opted to even them up instead. The shop I got her from had cut 12 feathers!! So, she hasn’t flown as yet - is currently 5months old. I’ve started doing some recall training though and hope I can have her fully flighted when her feathers come in. It’s looking like she really wants to fly... so fingers crossed!

Because of the wing clip and possible too small of a cage at the shop, she had badly damaged tail feathers too... and from there - had been butchering them because they were bothering her. The AV removed a couple of tail feathers to encourage new ones to grow in.. which worked and she’s had maybe 4 new ones grow in since...still more to come though! It’s been a slow process, but we’re getting there!

Definitely head to your AV and see what they say. They did Lola’s bloods as well to make sure she was free of diseases and also trimmed her nails a little. So it’s definitely good to visit them.

I try and make sure Lola gets plenty of sunlight, she eats heaps of veggies and some fruit and tonight I had success with spoon feeding her some soaked pellets for the first time!!! (Trying to transition her from seeds.. she usually throws the pellets out).

Congrats on your new baby and well done!! Sounds like she’s in good hands.

Here are the photos of Lola’s damaged tail feathers and her one - wing clip (doesn’t show too much).

And here she is enjoying some sunshine.

Looking forward to seeing your babies progress


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Shoegoo]

Some owners have mistakenly clipped only one side of their bird's wings. The good news is that the wings will grow back and you can take your bird to someone else if you choose.