Flighted vs. Clipped Wings

[Atwee921]

When I got Sprite, his wings were clipped. When they started to grow out the first time, I got them clipped again. I hated doing that, Sprite always thought he could fly farther than he actually could. The third time, I let them grow out fully and I would never go back, for multiple reasons. First, I believe he's been flighted for at least a year now, so taking that away from him would be cruel. Second, he never shows any interest of going outdoors. NOT saying that it's impossible to happen, but whenever I take him out on his harness he gets scared/overwhelmed. I also like him being flighted because he can easily navigate around the house now. He's even figured out how to fly downstairs and upstairs (although he only does if someone he wants to see is there)

Are your parrots flighted or do they have their wings clipped? Why?

 

[Kiwibird]

Kiwi is clipped. He was when we adopted him, and we were informed he was probably never taught to fly (he was about 10 y/o at that time and we're his 3rd known home). He has never really shown an interest in flying. There have been a couple times he has jumped off his perch because he got scared, but his clumsy, uncontrolled decent indicates to me he has never been flighted. We have let some flight feathers grow in, and tried to give him a gentle toss onto the bed before, but he grips my hand for dear life. He does enjoy being flapped around the room though (something we've done since shortly after we got him for exercise). We hold his feet, get him above our head and he starts flapping furiously. He enjoys it, but the whole way he holds his body and his wing movements indicate to me he has no clue how to really fly. He is REALLY strong with climbing though. He has no problems getting around because he can climb just about anything, and his acrobatic abilities amaze me almost more than flight.

I grew up with 3 flighted parrots, so I'm not opposed to it. I would actually prefer if he was a flighted bird because I feel thats how nature intended for them to be. However, as an individual, he's just not cut out for flight.

 

[NiRD]

My birds are all flighted except the new addition. I got her with her wings clipped. We have started recall training and when her feathers grow back she will not be clipped again.

 

[DallyTsuka]

all of mine are flighted. im not opposed to clipping though. just depends what people can live with.

 

[TessieB]

To clip or not to clip can really start an angry debate. Clipping an aggressive, dive bombing bird's wings is necessary. However, without training, the aggressive, dive bombing bird will start to bite.

Since my birds live in their own place, and don't have worry about being snatched by the kids, pet dog or cat, I don't clip. However, clipping a new bird's wings does help with training, and prevents neck-breaking collisions with windows, mirrors and walls.

Wing clipping has its proper place in bird ownership. It's not cruel when used as a training method or a way to keep the bird safe when it first arrives to a new home. However in a home with multiple pets, toddlers and nosy relatives, a bird needs a means to escape.

Wing clipping is a personal choice and those who do so do not need to feel guilty about taking away their bird's ability to fly. One thing about clipping the wings, the feathers always grow back. So, I don't think wing clipping is cruel. I'd much rather clip wings than have my pet bird crack his skull against the window.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Very well said, Tessie!

3 out of my 4 are fully flighted. Just recently I took just enough off Sam's flights so that he would stop flying to the top of the big macs' cages. I had some scary moments with him, and didn't want to risk him losing a limb - or worse, especially because neither Ripley nor Niko appreciated him on top of their cages. He can still fly, but he can't get enough height to fly up there any longer.

...now he just flies to the couch and tears up my pillows and blankets.

 

[Kissed82]

My B&G is fully flighted and flys room to room all day long.
My jenday conure is not clipped and hasn't figured flight out yet.
My Quaker is clipped, she is 7-9 years old coming from a neglectful past home. She wasn't allowed out of her cage for years. When she came to me she figured out flight BUT was really bad at landing. She would fly in circles until someone caught her or she would smack into a wall and drop like a fly. After months and months of allowing her to try, clipping was the safest option for her.

 

[Kissed82]

Also, I will have to address the jenday if and when he figures out flight. He hates the B&G, so if he decides he is going to fly over and pick on the macaw.....I might have to clip for safety.

 

[Sterling1113]

2/3 of my birds are clipped. I clipped my GCC for training, as when we got him he wouldn't even let someone walk by him or he would fly off (usually straight into a wall.) so we clipped him, and he's been getting better and better and now though he prefers to stay on the cage he doesn't mind being picked up and scratched.
My white eared conure is flighted, although I'm considering clipping her again. She is very skilled in flying, quite acrobatic really. She does figure eights around us and tries to get as close to our faces without hitting us with her wings... which she usually does. However with the new addition of this Eclectus, she is very "territorial" or her home and her humans, and the last thing I need is her flying over to him or his cage to tell him how it is.. then get hurt. So clipping seems like the best way to sort of "keep the peace" until everyone is adjusted.
Yoshi the Eclectus was clipped when I got him. He's 3 and I have no idea if he's ever been flighted, but if he will trust me and let me put a harness on him by the time he is flighted again I will definitely be working with him, as I would love to see him fly someday.

 

[Anansi]

Bixby, my 7 month old male eclectus, has never been clipped. I've been working with him on his flight skills since we brought him home in late November. I've been very happy with this choice, as has Bixby, but I can certainly understand why some might want to clip. I've heard the horror stories of birds flying full speed into walls and breaking their necks. Or others who become aggressive and begin launching flying attacks on people in the house.

I train Bixby and work with him as often as I can to minimize his chances of flight related injuries, and I work exhaustively at socializing him so that he doesn't develop any aggressive tendencies.

But if he ever became aggressive to the point of flying attacks, or was continually hurting himself flying into walls and windows, I think I would have to go ahead and clip him. For me it would be a last resort, but that's just my personal take.

 

[BACON]

My birds flighted altho only recently. She was when I first got her, but she never flew much, only to attack my mum and sister, sooo I thought long and hard about it and thought she wasn't going to miss out in much so I had her clipped, it was a fairly harsh clip really, but in the time she WAS clipped I was able to take her outside, she would go in the tree in our back yard for the afternoon, she enjoyed her time out there, but then I wanted her flighted again... Her feathers have grown back now but, she still rarely flys. I'm considering a mild clip so I'm able to take her back out side in the summer,

Ideally I want her flighted, her wings look soooo much better obviously with all her feathers, but sometime I feel she's missing out on soooo much more.

Mum would also be FAARRRRRRR happier with her out if she was clipped.

I think it's such a personal choice, its needed by some. Not really helped much, but that's my experience!!

 

[SpotsandSally]

Ok, so Kiwi & Mango are both flighted.


Kiwi came clipped. He's regrown about 2/3 of his feathers. He lost a lot of tail feathers too. He's a good flyer, not the most acrobatic but he's able to fly

Mango came fully flighted. She's a fat bird who doesn't like to fly, lol. She's not a fast flyer, and very rarely flies, but she has the option. She's a climber.

 

[RavensGryf]

Very well said TessieB!

Pet bird wing clipping is one of those potentially volatile topics, as is discussing diet and pellets, and a couple other topics I'll usually stay out of.

I did want to chime in here because I have a very valid reason for clipping. Where I live at the moment, our front door is right there in the middle of the living room which is the only place the cages fit. If you saw the layout of this place you'd agree! With cage doors open the majority of the time we're home, and two people potentially going in and out the door, it just wouldn't be safe 100% of the time.

In Robin's case, I bought him at a bird store around 20 years ago clipped, and in fact he'd probably never even fledged. In the past a couple times when he did grow out, he had no idea how to fly AT ALL, and was actually a danger to himself. It's all he knows, so he's a happy (and safe) bird

The budgies ARE flighted, but they're in the back room, and only allowed in the living room (by the door) at certain times, when we're watching them.

While I DO think it's 'ideal' to keep a bird flighted, the two main circumstances I can think of where I think clipping is 'better' is when there is a great chance of escape out the door and no way to remedy it, and if a bird should get hormonal or otherwise aggressive and dangerous, and would need to be grounded for a time during training, or til hormones pass.

On a separate note, one thing that does concern me, is that within the year we will be having to move in with my elderly father to help him in his home. He owns a crazy Jack Russell terrier who is extremely blood thirsty for small animals... The dog is always partitioned off, but at times she gets away and runs through the off limits areas of the house until we can chase her out. The birds will probably have to stay in certain rooms only except under strict supervision unfortunately.

 

[MikeyTN]

A lot of these topics are searchable through database within the forum as it's been a repeated question throughout the years. Like it was mentioned this is a debatable subject and each to their own.

 

[RavensGryf]

A lot of these topics are searchable through database within the forum as it's been a repeated question throughout the years. Like it was mentioned this is a debatable subject and each to their own.

I hear you about all the repeat on more common topics
I thought the OP was mainly wanting to ask the members who are currently posting here what they do and why, just for fun and curiosity's sake, not cause she was having a problem? Don't know, I could be wrong :20:

 

[aether-drifter]

Mine are flighted for the following reasons --

a) Physical Health: Being flighted increases strength, stamina and muscle tone, and overall physical condition. Even vigorous play and climbing is not enough to keep a bird "in shape" as they were meant to be.

Cockatiels tend to be perch potatoes when clipped, and galahs get obese and can develop fatty tumors. Don't want that for my birds!

b) Emotional/Mental Health: Flighted birds are much happier, in my experience. It is also natural for birds to be able to take flight when startled, which does happen quite a bit with mine. I hate watching a startled bird try to take flight, and crashing to the floor.

Personally, I would not clip unless a bird was being extremely aggressive (launching aerial attacks). Even then, I would use it as a hopefully temporary solution, while working through the aggression with positive reinforcement. And/or waiting for it to pass, if it was caused by the onset of hormones.

Recently, I lightly clipped the wings of a cockatiel that I was watching for a friend. The poor bird hadn't been allowed out of a tiny cage in years, and didn't have much control over his flight. I didn't want him to go to his new home and immediately crash into my friend's big wall of windows and break his neck, so I just took enough feathers to allow him to be able to fly short distances and glide. I didn't want to do it, but I was worried for his safety. The plan is to let him be flighted eventually, once he regains some muscle tone, skill and gets used to his new home.

 

[MikeyTN]

A lot of these topics are searchable through database within the forum as it's been a repeated question throughout the years. Like it was mentioned this is a debatable subj. t and each to their own.

I hear you about all the repeat on more common topics
I thought the OP was mainly wanting to ask the members who are currently posting here what they do and why, just for fun and curiosity's sake, not cause she was having a problem? Don't know, I could be wrong :20:

I read the question and even the thread title. It was something that was asked not too long ago, perhaps within the past 6 months. And almost always it gets heated up to the point either we have to step in or close it. So be courteous everyone!

 

[RavensGryf]

Wow, this topic usually gets so heated you have to close it?
I'm outta here then :11: (this thread, not the forum lol)

A topic is really no fun anymore (at least to me) when it gets frustrating and you start to see anger setting in

 

[Kiwibird]

I read the question and even the thread title. It was something that was asked not too long ago, perhaps within the past 6 months. And almost always it gets heated up to the point either we have to step in or close it. So be courteous everyone!

I have seen this topic more than once too, and I know what your saying (there are a few other call to war issues on here too). However, this thread seems to have kept a positive note to it and everyone has been respectful of others decisions Let's keep up the positive, respectful and intelligent discussion on this subject everyone

 

[JerseyWendy]

Thank you Kiwibird, I whole-heartedly agree.

It is entirely possible to NOT get into each other's face about this issue, as long as everyone respects the next person's decision on this subject, without coming across as "I'm right - you're wrong."