Hi everybody! Another clipping question...I know, I know.

[Ahnutts]

I've had my African Grey for 7 years, got him brand new from the breeder. When we got him we were concerned he was going to hurt himself because he flew into the living room window, so we took him to the vet and got him clipped. I think he took too much off because the poor little guy dropped like a stone afterward. We never clipped him again but he didn't try to fly again until about 4 years ago, when he took off from my shoulder when some loud noise spooked him. He flew around the marina where our boat is, and tried to land on one of the boats near us. He missed the landing and splashed into the icy cold sea. We fished him out and warmed him up and he didn't try to fly again until this winter. Lately he's been flying around in our 40' sailboat. It hasn't been an issue so far, but now spring is here along with at least 3 eagles. Normally our bird comes outside with us on sunny days and we've never been too concerned. The eagles around here have become used to being fed fish heads and guts, and are not timid at all. If he does try to fly outside, he's most likely a goner. Now all this flying means he needs to be locked up if the hatches are open. That means we spend less time together, and he doesn't get the outdoors time he's used to, which makes for sad humans and a sad bird. I was looking at a diagram of flight feathers that someone posted in another thread and I'm convinced that vet cut all of his secondary and some of his primary flight feathers. He's not overly confident at this point and has only flown to me and my wife or to places he's very familiar with. I'd like to hinder him just enough that he doesn't gain any confidence and try something new. I look forward to your feedback and advise!

 

[weco]

Clipping his wings, then allowing him access anywhere but the cabin sounds like a fools errand to me.....bald & sea eagles average flight speed hovers around 60 mph, with diving speeds reaching 100 mph, unless they're just soaring & Peregrine Falcons will dive on prey at up to & exceeding 200 mph.....

If I was going to let my bird onboard, anywhere other than the cabin, it would be in a cage suitable for a macaw & mounted to the deck in such a way that a passing eagle or falcon doesn't have African Grey tartare in mind for lunch and doesn't knock the cage overboard and with locks suitable to keep a bored bird well secured.....

You will also need some sort of hiding area, because a soaring falcon or eagle will seriously stress a bird in an open cage...possibly some sort of 5-sided box that is mounted inside the cage.....

If you're sailing around protected bays, sounds or fijords, you may be alright, but if you take spray, I really don't know what saltwater will do to a grey's skin.....they are pretty sensitive to skin irritants & I could see the possibility of dried salt spray bothering him and/or causing a skin problem.....it might be that you would have to give him a very thorough fresh water bath before any salt spray were allowed to dry.....

Can't think of any more potential problem areas, but will do a follow up poast if I do.....

 

[Ahnutts]

Thanks for the reply, when he's outdoors he's either on our shoulders or in close proximity. We don't have killer birds that swoop in on humans. My only fear is that he flies and makes himself a target. Restricting flight is my primary concern as he has flown out of an open hatch and landed on my foot already. I'm not concerned about the sea air affecting him, as he's already been afloat for 5 years and hasn't suffered any ill effects.

 

[Peeker]

I wouldn't count on any trim for what you have in mind. Have you considered using a harness? If he is used to handling you may be able to get an Aviator Harness on him and then when he is on your shoulder you are holding the leash to keep him from flying off. I'd say either that or keep him in the cabin to be safe.

 

[sodakat]

I lived aboard for a few years, first with a CAG and after her passing, with Eclectus. I was ignorant and thought that keeping them clipped was safer than having them flighted. But a neighbor with a macaw convinced me that the opposite was true -- a flighted bird can right themselves much easier than a clipped bird and is much safer around water.

We all have self-imposed rules for our birds, regardless where we live. When my birds are out of the bird room I turn off the ceiling fans and lock the front door because they are flighted. This means no flying bird will get hit by a fan or fly out a door because someone entered or left.

When aboard our sailboat we had the habit of caging the birds when the main hatch was open and carrying them on deck in a small cage which was attached to cleats with bungee cords when we wanted them to be outside while we were working on deck and could not pay constant attention. It became routine. It was a pain, but it kept the birds safe. When we were not busy they would come on deck wearing a harness.

I don't think there would be a clip that would allow flight that would keep him belowdeck. If he can fly, he can take short flights from station to station and eventually out the hatch.

 

[Ahnutts]

I wouldn't count on any trim for what you have in mind. Have you considered using a harness? If he is used to handling you may be able to get an Aviator Harness on him and then when he is on your shoulder you are holding the leash to keep him from flying off. I'd say either that or keep him in the cabin to be safe.

Thanks, we did try that and it exceedingly difficult to get it on him. My wounds have healed but I haven't tried putting it on him since. Lately we've been taking him outside for a few minutes at a time while holding his toes with him sitting on our hands. He doesn't mind that.

 

[Ahnutts]

I lived aboard for a few years, first with a CAG and after her passing, with Eclectus. I was ignorant and thought that keeping them clipped was safer than having them flighted. But a neighbor with a macaw convinced me that the opposite was true -- a flighted bird can right themselves much easier than a clipped bird and is much safer around water.

We all have self-imposed rules for our birds, regardless where we live. When my birds are out of the bird room I turn off the ceiling fans and lock the front door because they are flighted. This means no flying bird will get hit by a fan or fly out a door because someone entered or left.

When aboard our sailboat we had the habit of caging the birds when the main hatch was open and carrying them on deck in a small cage which was attached to cleats with bungee cords when we wanted them to be outside while we were working on deck and could not pay constant attention. It became routine. It was a pain, but it kept the birds safe. When we were not busy they would come on deck wearing a harness.

I don't think there would be a clip that would allow flight that would keep him belowdeck. If he can fly, he can take short flights from station to station and eventually out the hatch.

We definitely have some pondering to do. For now maybe added caution is the key and we'll see how how the situation progresses.

 

[MikeyTN]

When a falcon or eagle sees food on your shoulder they do not hesitate to go after them!!!! I need to find the video at a zoo where their hawk come swooping down on the trainer with a cockatoo on hand and took a beating from the hawk to save the cockatoo. It is very dangerous!!!!

Here's the link to the site and look for hawk divebombs zookeeper.
http://animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/untamed-uncut

 

[ShellyBorg]

Here is one.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikDpYwDKQ_A]Bird of Prey Attacks Cockatoo - YouTube[/ame]
The issue with this vid is that the bird of prey was part of the show and use to humans. I do know of a couple in Arizona who lost there CAG to a red tail off there shoulder.

 

[MikeyTN]

I've heard different stories throughout the years of people losing their pet birds to birds of prey on their shoulders or right infront of them. Even small dogs too!

 

[Lintini]

I wouldn't even take a chance with your grey around larger birds of prey. You can't ever be positive that they won't swoop down. Don't even risk it in my opinion, it's not safe and you would never forgive yourself. Not worth the heartache.

 

[Kalidasa]

That video was terrifying.

 

[Ahnutts]

Here is one.
Bird of Prey Attacks Cockatoo - YouTube
The issue with this vid is that the bird of prey was part of the show and use to humans. I do know of a couple in Arizona who lost there CAG to a red tail off there shoulder.

Wow. I'm speechless.

 

[Grenage]

To be fair, that was a bird of prey that spent its life around humans, and probably didn't fear them.

That said, I had a cat take an injured wild bird off my lap; anything can happen.

 

[Ahnutts]

To be fair, that was a bird of prey that spent its life around humans, and probably didn't fear them.

That said, I had a cat take an injured wild bird off my lap; anything can happen.

Thats a very good point. I have a neighbour who's a retired vet. When we had a rodent issue recently he told me he'd seen a parrot that had had its foot bit off by a rat. Another friend of mine had his African Grey killed by his neighbour's dog. Its a big dangerous world.