old bird new tricks

[ParkersMom]

okay well really he just turned 1 on the 2nd, but he has never learned to fly and is now growing in his feathers from his first clip. I would love to have him fly, but we have 3 big dogs and 3 cats and I have a husband that is not happy about the idea. so a few questions
1 will he learn on his own or do I have to help him
2 is there a such thing as a partial clip that allows some flight but not full all over the place flight...like from the perch to the couch a few feet away but not down the hall and into the other room.
3 i'm not completely sure it is safe with all the other animals and we aren't is a position to put them away when the birds are out. they are out almost anytime we are home and I don't think that is fair to them either
4 how can I keep him off of or from landing on Kieko's cage

 

[weco]

Yes, limiting the number of feathers clipped allows a bird more flight capability, but I'm not totally sure I would clip him again, even with a modified clip.....

If your situation is such that you cannot closet your other animals when Parker is trying to fly, you could have a potential problem in the making.....in learning to fly, he will have little or no control over direction, lift & landing, at first it will be hit or miss & to your resident predators, that very well could excite a predatory interest in them because Parker might appear to be a bird in trouble.....

As to whether he can learn to fly, probably, because he is still young...whether you will need to help him, you won't know that until he tries.....

Good luck, but for a 'zon, learning to fly, he's going to need the biggest area you have & I would take down lamps and/or anything breakable.....he's not a conure or p'let & won't be able to learn to fly in one or two tries.....



Oh, by the way, go easy on yourself, you look a lot better than an 'old bird'..... ! ! !

 

[Merlee]

I have a dog and a cat who have freedom of the house so my birds' wings are clipped. We also have ceiling fans running all the time. Taking my lifestyle into consideration, a flighted bird in my house is an accident waiting to happen.

You have to train your bird what its boundaries are. It will take time, but it can be done.

 

[SandyBee]

our African Brown head has never learned to fly. August is now growing in her flight feathers but she has absolutely no control.
Bosley our amazon was stil able to fly with a clip.I think in your situation it might be dangerous to let him fly because he will not be good at it at first. I'm sure he will fly to places that he shouldn't and it will take some time to learn.

 

[ParkersMom]

i really don't mind keeping him clipped but I don't want to ruin him for flying later in life after the other pets have gone over the rainbow bridge...I figured i could somehow teach him now and then clip again until that point in time but i'm afraid that if he doesn't learn now he might never be able to

 

[SandyBee]

I am for him learning to fly, but as he does this there will be mistakes and it takes time.Our Brown head has had her flights in for a while and she doesn't even try except when she panics. I worry that he will end up where he shouldn't. To learn they need to be able to make mistakes like a baby learning to walk.

 

[henpecked]

If your ever interested in having a flighted bird, now is the time. Your fears about the dogs and cats is well founded. That;s your responsibility. Unless your going to lock him in a cage 24/7 you might as well show him the rules of your "flock".

 

[ParkersMom]

right now he is "flying" to the ground with out much response from the animals. I tell them leave it which they know fairly well, and pick Parker up immediately and place him back on his playstand. Parker likes to growl at them if they get too close so they are all kind of weary of him anyway...I think I shall give it a go and see what happens right now he has 2 primaries growing in on each wing so no lift and he is already mostly harness trained so that is a plus

 

[JerseyWendy]

I think it's GREAT that you are giving Parker the opportunity to use his wings.

Sam is constantly flying after me (his flight feathers haven't all grown back yet...so he's not all that good yet), and my dogs RUN when they see or hear him coming.

 

[ParkersMom]

the big think I have to worry about is convincing the husband...lol I think I just won't tell him...

 

[JerseyWendy]

the big think I have to worry about is convincing the husband...lol I think I just won't tell him...

I can just picture the "SURPRISE" factor when Parker gracefully flies over to the hubby and lands on his head one day.

 

[SandyBee]

Bosley loves flying!!
Hubby well has to deal with surprise flights in his direction, I'm not sure gracful and gentle landings belong in the same statement though!!:33::33:

 

[Melandkids]

I have been letting both my bc and sun feathers grow out. I was hoping that it might help with confidence with the sun. Lol @ not telling the husband. I didn't tell anyone my choice and Zeus has been testing his strength out and scared the poo out of my grandbaby and daughter.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Bosley loves flying!!
Hubby well has to deal with surprise flights in his direction, I'm not sure gracful and gentle landings belong in the same statement though!!:33::33:

That's hilarious, Sandy!!! C'mon, Bosley JUST wants to get to know the hubby better and get up close and personal with him.

 

[christinereed]

Our Amazon was clipped unevenly when we got her. For a long while, she didn't want to fly because she couldn't control her landings. She would come down on her chin. She just turned five, and I'd say she's been flying for about a year now. I noticed a definite improvement lately. She goes where she wants to go and lands very well most of the time. We don't have dogs, but we have a cat. I don't like it when she flies to the stairs, because I don't like her being on the ground where she and the cat could meet up before I get to her. Other than that, I'm very glad she can fly. It helps her get exercise.

 

[SandyBee]

Bosley loves flying!!
Hubby well has to deal with surprise flights in his direction, I'm not sure gracful and gentle landings belong in the same statement though!!:33::33:

That's hilarious, Sandy!!! C'mon, Bosley JUST wants to get to know the hubby better and get up close and personal with him.

LOL
Oh yes very up close and personal, beak to skin contact. I've managed to stop most fly attacks with a "Bosley don't you dare"
But you can tell Bosley is just waiting to pounce.
Is it summer yet:20: