Panama Amazon keeps trying to fly

[Lunchy]

Hello, I have a Amazon parrot that keeps trying to fly with her wings clipped. Im concerned that she is going to hurt herself, but I also cant stand keeping her cooped up in the cage all the time. Is there any way to stop this from happening?

A little bit of the birds history in case it helps.

Her name is rumba, She was purchased by my mother in law about 8 years ago, Where she got a TON of attention for the first 2 years, However, Sadly like a lot of parrot owners, they lost interest and the bird was ignored for about 5 years straight. When i had acquired her about a year ago, She had almost all of her feathers pulled out and a horrible screaming habit, She did not want to be touched by anyone.


Now, she has grown her feathers back, And is very social, and never screams unless we are being loud. She lets us pet her and really likes being held and played with, However, Whenever I leave the room without her in the cage, she tries to fly around, She has never had her wings clipped up until about 4 months ago, And before that, used to fly around the house when i left the room, now she just jumps off the cage and falls to the ground, I was hoping that she would stop trying to fly after a few times of crashing to the ground, but it has not happened, Is there any way to get this to stop? Like i said, i don't want her to have to stay in the cage all the time.

 

[lordburrito]

Very sad story with happy ending!!! Way to go!!! Very nice to hear about her getting so well!!!
About the clipping.... I am so happy that your bird is doing so well, and for you to take care of him so much... but clipping her wings... don't do that
1. The bird can get depressed again, and start feather plucking angain, especially if the bird done that before...
2. The bird will probably get fatter and unhelaty, cause birds use a lots of calories with flying
3. They can get some serious injury!!! for example... falling of the cage... or someone can smash the bird by sitting on her on the cauch, or smashing her by closing the doors when they follow us around the house....ect ...
If we buy a bird... then we should have one.. cause having a parrot with the clipped wings... is the same like having a feathered monkey... and that is sad... I think that non of us... would be happy if someone crashes our foots... we can use "suspenders" , and even take them to a walk outside in the nature... it really isn't necessary to clip...

 

[Lunchy]

Thanks lordburrito

However, If the wings were not clipped, i would have no option of letting her out of the cage, She Flies ALOT! Normally I would let her do as she wanted, but I live in an apartment, and I think having to keep her in the cage would be alot more detrimental to then birds mental health then clipping the wings does, I do however agree that birds should not have the wings clipped, Its more situational then anything. If i had more space and less girlfriend, i would not clip the wings, Im trying to come up to a happy medium with being able to have her out of the cage but also not flying around the house looking for me, (made the decision to clip when she flew directly into a door of the room i was in.)
Still looking for a way to prevent her from flying, Or ways to train her not to.

 

[Spiritbird]

I too live in a small apt. My bird did fly for 2 months after her molt and loved it. There was however a safey issue of flying into the ceiling light fixtures. For that reason I had wings clipped by my vet. She can still fly but not as much. I suggest when you are not near her to supervise keep her in the cage. Otherwise let her fly as much as she can but with supervision so she does not fall from anything. Was the wing clip done by someone skilled? If the wings were clipped correctly she should be able to fly short distances without falling.

 

[Lunchy]

I too live in a small apt. My bird did fly for 2 months after her molt and loved it. There was however a safey issue of flying into the ceiling light fixtures. For that reason I had wings clipped by my vet. She can still fly but not as much. I suggest when you are not near her to supervise keep her in the cage. Otherwise let her fly as much as she can but with supervision so she does not fall from anything. Was the wing clip done by someone skilled? If the wings were clipped correctly she should be able to fly short distances without falling.

The wings were clipped by me, I am a Vet tech, but to be honest it was the first time i had clipped any bird for about 6 years., When she flies now, its not very far at all, from about 6 feet up she only makes it about 3 feet before hitting the ground, I'm considering not clipping them again and training her to cage and recall on command. but in that case i will still have to wait for flight feathers to come back.

 

[greycloud]

Spread a comforter around the bottom of her cage. That way if she lands kind of hard she it will be on the soft comforter. She does not realize yet that she is unable to fly. You may have clipped a bit to many and this comes with practice and guidance. I truly believe that it is each individuals choice as to whether you clip or not. Only you know if you can keep a flighted bird safe. Active households and homes with fans are not good for flighted birds. My birds are all flighted, however, they do not fly around. I do not know why! LOL! It is fine with me. My home is not very active as it is just me and the hubs. Start working with your bird on target training now while she can't fly. This way when she molts and her flight feathers come in she will have a head start on recall and distance target training.