Flighted vs Clipped

[Helitorian]

The in store vet at my store clipped Con's wings a week before I bought him. I thought nothing of it until now when Con spread his wings in a big stretch and I got an eyeful of the butcher job they did. One side is longer than the other, what is left behind on both sides is uneven. It's just a messed up job! I'm gonna trim up what I can then let all his feathers grow back in. I'd like some opinions on whether leaving him flighted once they're in or clipping him again. Thanks everyone!

 

[beckybird]

Hi there : )

Having a flighted vs clipped bird depends on your bird and your lifestyle. My 3 conures are all flighted and I like it that way (they like being flighted too). If you choose to have a flighted bird, please be sure that your house is "bird-proofed." This means that there should be no dishes filled with water left in the sink- drowning danger. My mom had a flighted bird when she was growing up and her sister left the sink full of water after doing the dishes and the bird fell into it and drowned. Any open fish tanks or other containers of water must be covered as well. Toilets must be closed too, as a bird venturing into the restroom could fall in. This has happened at my house but luckily I was right there when it happened. I had to fish a soaking wet bird out of the toilet. Now our toilets always have to be closed. Be aware of fireplaces/stoves/halogen lamps and other heat sources while your bird is out flying. My birds have not run into ceiling fans, but that is a possible danger as well. Large mirrors and windows should have something on them (decals or blinds) so the bird can see them (birds' depth perception is different from ours). Everyone in the household should be mindful of opening doors and windows carefully as well- my little Lola flew outside from the sliding door to follow my husband's friend. Thankfully, we found her in the neighbor's yard unharmed and now we have "door rules": certain doors are not to be opened when the birds are out, and birds must be caged if the door must be open to move something in or out. Birds must not be allowed to fly around toxic houseplants or other toxic substances. I know there are many other dangers I have not mentioned, but there are "bird-proofing" checklists online and probably right here on the forum.

Once you've got the bird-proofing done, it is helpful to teach your bird to come to you or to go to its cage on command. When I tell my birds, "Go in the cage" they all fly to their cage and go inside. Birds sometimes don't want to go in the cage even when they are trained to do that. My little stinker Lincoln sometimes flies around the living room a few times before going into his cage when he's feeling saucy. This is something I am willing to put up with once in awhile because my conures really enjoy being able to fly. They are a little less dependent on me because they are flighted. If they get bored on their perch by the window, they can fly to the play cage on top of the refrigerator instead of helplessly screaming at me to come and move them somewhere else. Having flighted birds works well for me, but it does not work for everyone. You could try letting your bird be flighted, and then trim its wings if you find that it doesn't work for you.

I hope this helps

 

[Spiritbird]

I leave the clipping of anything on a bird up the pros. like my vet and or a groomer. Much safer. I am so sorry your bird got a chop job.

 

[Hochimama]

I thought that vets should be qualify to those job.. sorry to heard that yours did a bad job. If your are training and taming your bird, I would suggest clipped. If his very very tamed and suit to your lifestyle, you might keep full flighted wings and get a hardness. ^^

 

[Helitorian]

I'm keeping him clipped until he's well trained. I don't want him thinking he can get away with anything he wants. Once he's trained to my satisfaction and he's been trained on a harness, he will get his wings.

I like the idea of him being independent of me but as long as I live with my uncle (which is for about 6 more months) Con can not fly. There are loads of breakable and valuable things cause my uncle hordes collectibles. Once I have my own place we'll see what we can do. I just hope my cats are use to him by then but they'll be outside most of the time so I won't worry too much about them.

 

[Mare Miller]

I believe it's emotionally healthier for the bird to be able to fly. My cats, (and dogs), RUN when they see Amigo coming. Not sure if it's his voice or presence...just not sure.

 

[Remy]

Puck's wing clipping job was a butcher job too! He was clipped when I got him and they haven't grown out yet. I wanted to let them grow out, but he has such an attitude that I don't know if letting him fly is a good idea. I figure I'll let them grow out and see what happens. He loves to go outside though, and refuses to wear his harness at all, so I'll probably end up keeping him clipped. He seems to do just fine running and climbing and hopping!

On here, I've read that some people clip the wings different lengths on purpose to throw their balance off. I don't think it's at all necessary though. Seems kinda mean to me. Also, I would have somebody else clip his wings, at least at first. With Puck it's a 2 person job, and he would hate me if I did it myself. That way you can "rescue" him from the groomer!

 

[CRASH_CONURE]

with birds i like to have them flighted just to give them more freedom. but i have also heard that if birds dont fly there are parts of the birds lungs that inly work went it is in flight.

but it depends on you and other things in your home like cats dogs and kids.

 

[roxynoodle]

My Nanday was clipped when I got her. But, being a mindful little thing, it didn't stop her from going where she wanted. It took a lot of training. In her case, I was concerned because she would just jump down from her play gym, to get to the floor. I was concerned she would get hurt. Nandays are kind of hefty for their size and she would fall like a stone. So I let her wings grow back and she's been a good girl ever since. Of course that has a lot to do with all the time and training I put into her as well.

My BC was also clipped initially and could still fly pretty well! They are very light for their size. So I said, well, she can fly anyway, let them grow back. She was never a very confident flyer though and didn't do it often at all.

I do put my cat in my bedroom when the birds are out and don't have any concerns about people leaving doors open since I'm the only one who lives here. I also supervise them at every moment they are out. If others are here, I leave them in their cages.

 

[everdusk]

I actually have a mix of flighted and clipped birds. My poor cockatiel Pip came from the store so badly clipped (very short!) that there is not enough length from other feathers to shield his new ones. It's been two molts and his first flight feathers were beaten up and knocked out, he's only finally getting a new set. :c

I also have another cockatiel who is a very strong flyer, even when we clipped all his feathers he was flying within a few days with strength alone! Since then we've let him grow them back because he just doesn't like people and I'm not going to force him.

And then there's Prim, I really like her cut, she has 2 flight feathers on each wing and an even cut, she can fly short distances. For example, she could fly from the floor to the couch arm and then to the cage, or from the kitchen table to me across the room!

I also have a fully flighted cockatiel and budgie who are both very sweet and were never clipped.

So to summarize, I think the right choice totally depends on the bird.

 

[MikeyTN]

To clip or not to clip depends on IF your careful! Don't allow a bird being out of him/her cage while someone is going in and out of the house. Or like what I do, I place a sliding door and it's a closed door at all times so they would never fly outside or into the glass entry door where they can easily get hurt or even death. We have curtains on ALL windows so our birds never fly into the windows. IF a bird badly needed to be trained or does fly attack, I would suggest those type of birds to be clipped. I don't clip my birds except I do with babies until they learn to mind themselves. It's a debated topic that a lot of people don't agree with either way. I have my reasoning why I don't clip, it's for their own good! I visited a breeder friend today and another lady was there, neither one agrees with me about not clipping, they weren't happy to hear that I don't clip mine. But I explained my reasoning, to listen or not, it's up to them. I didn't just start with birds, I used to breed them too so it's from my own observation why I don't clip.

 

[NatWatson]

Both my boys are fully flighted, and personally I wouldnt have it any other way. I do however have a very bird-safe environment for them with bird-savvy people living and visiting here. What works for me, may not be appropriate for everyone.

 

[cockatielfan17]

clipped if u want to train and flighted mostly can get the bird hurt if u let it out fly into a window or something

 

[wenz2712]

I always have mine clipped now! The reason for this is quite a few years ago when I had my very first Bird which was a Jenday Conure, she was fully flighted and she flew so hard into a Window that she broke her neck It is something I have never forgotton I have them clipped by a proffesional and they are not done too severely!! They can still fly about waist height and then glide to the floor

 

[MikeyTN]

IF you want to keep your birds flighted, you MUST bird proof your house!!!! Shut the ceiling fan off, keep doors closed, cover your windows, etc etc!

 

[lene1949]

IF you want to keep your birds flighted, you MUST bird proof your house!!!! Shut the ceiling fan off, keep doors closed, cover your windows, etc etc!

Yes, absolutely! My birds are fully flighted, but only Max (Alexandrine) is inside, but I have 100% power of doors, ceiling fans (none) etc. etc... No one can just walk through any of my doors, as they stay locked... A sign on the times we live in, I suppose...

Max often gets a bit cheeky, and I often think of clipping his wings... But... he hasn't made me late for work, and hasn't ruined anything important to me... All remote controls I put face down...

When I'm cooking, he's in his cage... I just wouldn't risk it.