clipping a flighted Parrot ??????

[Kai]

Hi,

My QP is fully flighted and has been for as long as I've had her - about 4 years. I rescued her when she was estimated to be about 6 months(she was badly clipped then) and she grew new wings and learned to fly with me she's about 5 years old now. She is almost in week two of a slow introduction process with her new friend a Nanday Conure. They are spending time together through cages and I take one out at a time. When she is out, she just continuously flies to perch on top of the Nanday's cage and is sometimes, well often, aggressive with her when she can get away with it. We are working on it, but I wondered if it would be safer for this process if I got her LIGHTLY clipped. My thought is that if she is then she may not be able to torture the Nanday as much because she wouldn't be able to reach her as easily and it may be then easier to train the aggression out of her. Of course, I have such reservations about clipping her, I'm not sure don't want to further stress her with YET ANOTHER change to her life! and I'm not certain how well Parrots do with being clipped if they never have been.

Any suggestions?

 

[Spiritbird]

I would suggest taking her to the expert (avain vet) for a light clip just because of what you said about further stress and her first wing clip. They have a way of doing it much better then us. After all that is what they do!!

 

[Kai]

oH gosh absolutely I didn't mean to suggest I'd do it. Thank you

 

[woody]

is it possible to cover the top of the nandays cage or something ,to avoid the behaviour, rather than clip?

i'm not one for clipping at all, and i know everyone has differing opinions, but i think if the bird has always been flighted, and is then clipped, you may just end up with different problems...

can you think of a way to avoid the behaviour by changing something, rather than to clip straightaway???

 

[Chris Winkler]

If you do decide to have her clipped only have the outer 5 feathers clipped.. This way she will be able to glide to the floor not drop like a rock

 

[Chris Winkler]

i'm not one for clipping at all, and i know everyone has differing opinions, but i think if the bird has always been flighted, and is then clipped, you may just end up with different problems...

This is a debate that will never come to a conclusion for sure. However I have lost 3 birds because they were not clipped. Even in the most cautious of homes it can happen. Just look at all the lost birds we see postings about.

 

[HRH Di]

Thsi is such a difficult decision! And you have to make the best decision for your circumstance...don't let anyone make you 2nd guess your decision.

Although, since you asked for advice, here goes....I agree with Woody. See if you can find another way to make the top of the cage less attractive. Personally, clipping would be my last resort.

Good luck on whatever you decide.

 

[SunshineJenn03]

Quakers are typically aggressive birds, especially when unclipped and around other birds. Both of mine were for sure. Just clip the six outer flight feathers. She's flying to the Nanday's cage to show cage dominance. I have a Poi who does this with a Green Cheek (interestingly, the Green Cheek is the dominant bird, even though they no longer play together). Just be careful after you trim her flight feathers - they're such light birds, they can still catch a good breeze and get going.

I love QPs!

 

[Spiritbird]

Thank you WC for the article. This is one persons opinion. We will debate this topic until the cows come home as they say. Too bad we cannot ask the birds how they feel when the wings are ready for flight or clipped. We can only guess.