Clip or not to Clip?

[Helitorian]

I don't clip Con or Barker. They deserve the amazing ability that they were born with. It isn't my right to take it from them because I think it might keep them safe. I know it won't because as others have already said; clipped birds can and will still fly away from you and if they do, I'd rather then have the knowledge and ability to get away from predators. Also, I believe that being flighted makes the birds smarter. They have to make so many decisions and think about so much before they take off and during flight that it really gets their brain going as well as their bodies. A bird's body was made to fly so that's what they should do.

My dad can be a bit scatterbrained with the front door (which is the only one not covered with a magnetic bug screen) so my brain has gotten trained to spot bird hazards before they become a problem. I close the door he forgets to close all the way, shut the toilet lid, throw away rotting fruits and veggies, hide the treats so they don't get too many and check any "toy" he's decided to give them. Thankfully, I only have to keep up this hyper vigilance for about 3 months until I get my own home. But until then, I will keep them safe without restricting what comes naturally to them.

 

[angiemw]

Helitorian, I can see your side to it. I don't want to take her ability of flight from her. I'm reading on all I can. But so far, I am still getting both sides. Some say clip, some say don't clip.

 

[JensFlock]

I clip mine because I'm in an apartment that has large windows. I don't want them flying into them, and that's where they go first every time.
They can drift down when they fly, but they can't fly up.

 

[lene1949]

Thank you everybody! I'm going to take it all into consideration. I hate to say this, but because Eva isn't a people person, and she still shy's away from me, I might have to clip her. I keep saying not to do it. But I'm afraid if she gets out I will lose her. She don't come to people yet unless she wants seeds. I keep thinking to have them clipped until she like's us more and comes to us willingly. Friday we go to the vet. I hope to have it figured out by then.

If that's the case, I would clip her to ease the training. Since she's depending on you to carry her to places she will bond better.

I agree...

 

[solobaby]

im on the fence- i clip because it allowes for my birds to have way more out of cage , infact they are only in their cages if we are all out or at bed time so they spend about 10 hours out of their cages and that would go down to like 2 or 3 if flighted. but i think that if possible birds should be flighted. i have this argument with my mom often and i think we have taken them from the wild made them unable to look after themselves and dependent on us so the least we can do is make sure we keep them as happy and safe as we can if that means a light clip then so be it

 

[raleej337]

Scooters (our pineapple gcc) wings are clipped lightly. Just enough for him to fly low. He can freely go and back to his cage by himself. I think he is happy with that, at least he doesnt lose his flying ability.

 

[ann]

im clipping my patti because we're still getting used to each other, however, once hes used to me, i might keep him flighted.

 

[Largofan]

Hiccup was clipped the day I met her by the breeder cause she and her sibling where refusing to come down from the ceiling fan and we where lucky they didn't get out of the small room we where in. I know Auntie Helitorian doesn't like the idea, but it all depends on Hiccup. I've had her for just over a week now and she's flown away from me twice and didn't want to go to bed once, so tried to fly away. When she landed on the floor and realized there was no where to really escape to, she came waddling back over to me. The only time I didn't offer my finger to her, she crawled all the way up from my foot and that was just because I was texting Auntie Helitorian. If she learns to come when I call and will do step up, then she'll be flighted. If she goes back to flying out of reach, refusing to come, and just being overly wild, then she'll be clipped again cause I have a forty gallon fish tank and I don't want her drowning in it

 

[Marnie]

i have had a lot of birds (clipped) and i finally went with the thought that "birds should fly". it was a beautiful sight to see for sure.
yup, she flew right out the door never to be seen again. it happened in the blink of an eye while i was letting my dogs in.
not a day goes by i don't wonder what happened to by beloved Bette. she was a beautiful bright yellow IRN. i thought surely someone would see her and i would get her back. she would have been easy prey for a hawk or cat, she did not know to fear them or to hide. so even though she could fly to save herself she probably didn't know the danger. she would walk right up to a cat, as she did my dogs.
i would give anything to have her back.
i now have another IRN and he will always be clipped. he can still glide to the floor safely but he does not have any lift so he stays on the floor till i pick him up or he he climbs back up his perch himself.

 

[Oedipussrex]

Personally i would say dont clip, because my eclectus being clipped has led to issues. However, because of these issues he has not grown in yet and I have never had to deal with a flighted bird (yet).

It really does just depend on the environment and situation, but i wouldnt clip unless they truly are troublesome or agressive as a flier.

 

[JonnyG]

I didn't want to clip but ended up doing it, im glad I did though now. Persie is a really good flyer but he did hit the windows a few times, that and if he didn't want to go back in his cage it could be very hard to catch him, my front door is in my front room where persie lives so it was very awkward when people knock and he won't go in his cage, also when you had dinner he had a habit of diving onto your food (he did have to have an unwanted bath once when he jumped in the ketchup). When I clipped him he was a bit upset at first but he very quickly forgot, he now explores alot more places and seems to keep himself busier now playing with random things around the room instead of flying from person to person. I lightly clipped persie, it took a few attempts to figure out how much, he can fly still, he can fly from floor to ceiling no problem but he prefers to walk now.

It is very dependent on situation but honestly its not like your cutting their wings off here, they will start to enjoy the room suddenly being bigger, they are happy walking and they enjoy exploring instead of bypassing everything.

This little video pretty sums it up, he never noticed it before...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgIAqUmFwX8"]Persie the green cheek conure wanting the washing!! - YouTube[/ame]

 

[JonnyG]

I don't clip Con or Barker. They deserve the amazing ability that they were born with. It isn't my right to take it from them because I think it might keep them safe. I know it won't because as others have already said; clipped birds can and will still fly away from you and if they do, I'd rather then have the knowledge and ability to get away from predators. Also, I believe that being flighted makes the birds smarter. They have to make so many decisions and think about so much before they take off and during flight that it really gets their brain going as well as their bodies. A bird's body was made to fly so that's what they should do.

I disagree here, unless you clip so severely they cant fly then your not taking anything away, Persie is clipped and can still fly quite well but now the enclosed world they are kept in has just becomes bigger, he loves to explore now, find new things and figure them out. Flying is an instinct, its a natural function for them, I think the phrase 'like riding a bike' is quite relevant, we can do it without thinking and although its not flying its not something we have had millions of years to perfect. The key of any pet care is to do whats best for the animals, sometimes that involves impeding them I'm afraid

 

[Helitorian]

Hiccup was clipped the day I met her by the breeder cause she and her sibling where refusing to come down from the ceiling fan and we where lucky they didn't get out of the small room we where in. I know Auntie Helitorian doesn't like the idea, but it all depends on Hiccup. I've had her for just over a week now and she's flown away from me twice and didn't want to go to bed once, so tried to fly away. When she landed on the floor and realized there was no where to really escape to, she came waddling back over to me. The only time I didn't offer my finger to her, she crawled all the way up from my foot and that was just because I was texting Auntie Helitorian. If she learns to come when I call and will do step up, then she'll be flighted. If she goes back to flying out of reach, refusing to come, and just being overly wild, then she'll be clipped again cause I have a forty gallon fish tank and I don't want her drowning in it

The thing with Hic though is you've only had her for two weeks so she's still getting use to you and her new surroundings. You're doing amazing with her and if you keep up the daily training, she's be one heck of a bird. You just have to remember that birds aren't like dogs. You can't expect them to learn what you want them to learn unless they want to. Con and I still fight over her harness but that's mainly my fault for being so lax with training. Con and Barker let me get away with so much lol

I say let her grow her flights back. It'll be a few months until she does which gives you time to form a tight bond and do lots of training. Lots of birds personalities change when they get their flights. Con became a little more pushy but not enough that it forced me to clip her. I suggest doing the same with Hiccup. Give her the chance to try her wings with you after some training. Things might work out. If not, I'll teach you how to clip her.

This morning was an example of the joys of having a flighted bird for me. Con flitted back and forth between her cage, T-Stand, me and her forest. I was so proud to see she's grown as a flier and is so confidant in herself now even though she's still missing a good portion of her flights. She's so beautiful wheeling around the room with her emerald and sapphire feathers flashing in the sun before she brakes, hovers like a hummingbird, then gently lands on my head. I enjoyed being able to toss her into the air then call her back. It was a game we played for a good four hours.

She was happy and I could tell as she took off on many loops around me when she wasn't busy destroying a toy, chewing on my ear, or trying to steal a bite of my sandwich. Her happiness is important to me and I'll never regret giving her her wings back. She's beautiful when she's herself but she's magnificent when she's flying and that's how I want her to be.

 

[echoskybound]

So I hear clipping a birds wings are good for the bird so it don't get away from you. Yet I'm hearing other's say, "You wouldn't tie a cats legs together, would you?"
Is it me, or is tying a cats legs different than clipping a birds wings. It's not like declawing a cat. Its not permanent!

Now I'm confused, do I clip or not?

What's your thoughts?

There are good and bad arguments on both sides. Here are what I think are the pros and cons of clipping or not clipping:

Clipping pros: The bird will stay with you more, they're safe from dangers like flying into windows, mirrors, ceiling fans, other pets, flying out open doors/windows, and tons of other dangers.

Clipping cons: When a bird loses their "flight" they may choose "fight" when they are scared, which means they may be more aggressive. They don't get as much exercise as flighted birds and may become overweight. Even a clipped bird may still try to fly if he's spooked, just because it's their instinct, and that may result in him falling and possibly breaking bones or blood feathers.

Flighted pros: Excellent exercise for the bird, great mental stimulation, and can allow them to escape from a situation the bird feels uncomfortable with.

Flighted cons: Everything is dangerous. The bird can get into anything and you need to super bird-proof your house.

Both choices are good for your bird for different reasons, it's up to you. I choose to keep my bird flighted and I work on daily flight training (recalling, teaching him how to ascend/descend, etc) and he LOVES flying. It's great exercise and he's MUCH happier when he gets to fly a lot. I think that it's not a bad idea to clip a few feathers so that the bird can still glide, but can't really fly. They'll be able to fly a short distance so that they won't sink like a rock if they fall.

 

[AFP520]

Since I am a first time parrot owner, my Conure's wings were clipped from the breeder and I will continue to clip them, especially considering the horror stories I've just read about breaking necks and flying away permanently. She can still fly for a few seconds, and in a gliding motion as others have suggested.

 

[MikeyTN]

I don't clip Con or Barker. They deserve the amazing ability that they were born with. It isn't my right to take it from them because I think it might keep them safe. I know it won't because as others have already said; clipped birds can and will still fly away from you and if they do, I'd rather then have the knowledge and ability to get away from predators. Also, I believe that being flighted makes the birds smarter. They have to make so many decisions and think about so much before they take off and during flight that it really gets their brain going as well as their bodies. A bird's body was made to fly so that's what they should do.

I disagree here, unless you clip so severely they cant fly then your not taking anything away, Persie is clipped and can still fly quite well but now the enclosed world they are kept in has just becomes bigger, he loves to explore now, find new things and figure them out. Flying is an instinct, its a natural function for them, I think the phrase 'like riding a bike' is quite relevant, we can do it without thinking and although its not flying its not something we have had millions of years to perfect. The key of any pet care is to do whats best for the animals, sometimes that involves impeding them I'm afraid

I tend to disagree with you there Jonny! Once you clip them, it can take them days to weeks to master their flight once they grow them back!

One of the cons with clipping is feather destruction! One pf the major reason why I don't clip them!!!! I've seen too many birds destruct their feathers after clipping. My birds don't fly all over, they prefer to just ride on us.

 

[Helitorian]

I tend to disagree with you there Jonny! Once you clip them, it can take them days to weeks to master their flight once they grow them back!

One of the cons with clipping is feather destruction! One pf the major reason why I don't clip them!!!! I've seen too many birds destruct their feathers after clipping. My birds don't fly all over, they prefer to just ride on us.

I agree with MikeyTN. I've seen birds that have shredded their feathers because they're clipped then continue even after they aren't. As for Con, she loves to fly and makes any excuse she can to do it but I enjoy letting her do it. Usually, I'm what she's going for so she flies to ride around on me or spy on me in the shower like she did this morning

 

[KrazyBirdBoy]

I do not clip just a personal thing I guess to each his own. I clip alot of birds on a daily basis but I never do my own . I def. don't judge people who do though whatever suits you and your fid best.

 

[Oedipussrex]

*i feel obliged to edit. Due to some previous posts by me.

I did blame only being clipped on one side when he was young for pickles bad balance, self esteem and the trigger for pickle's picking issues. He has since been diagnosed with PBFD virus and so this is obviously NOT the case.

And for the time being, my opinion on clipping hardly bears any consequence at all, though I do believe that there are so many more variables than simply "clipped" and "not clipped" and the decision is situational.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

One of the cons with clipping is feather destruction! One pf the major reason why I don't clip them!!!! I've seen too many birds destruct their feathers after clipping. My birds don't fly all over, they prefer to just ride on us.

That's interesting you mention feather destruction, my galah hasn't been plucking her feathers as much since she's started flying more. She only plucked blood feathers coming in on her back where she is bald, it's exciting that I haven't found one laying on the floor in a pretty long time now. Now when I see a blood feather coming in I don't feel like I need to watch her like a hawk lol

Why pluck your feathers when you actually have a use for them(needing them for flight)