Parrots opinion on clipped wings

[ChrisWink]

If you keep your parrot flightless (like a dropped stone), you must keep your parrot in its cage since this type of feather cutting is very dangerous to the health of your parrot should it attempt flight from height.

That is exactly the reason I learned how to clip myself. Our local pet store always clips all the flight feathers even when asked not to. When this was done to my TAG I was furious. I know a guy that use to work there and he said that was the owners policy on clipping. He then showed me how to do it properly so the bird can glide to the ground.

 

[Birdman666]

Just because a parrot knows about every single window doesn't always necessarily mean he/she will no longer crash into any of them. I learnt that the very hard way. My Niko (B&G) was spooked while in the kitchen on his Java tree. It happened super fast. He let out a blood curling scream, then quickly and aimlessly took off and crashed into our huge window in the front living room. Feathers everywhere! Bald spot on his head, too, from the impact. I was lucky he didn't break his neck. I'm sure he had a massive headache (as did I). I now draw heavy blinds when my big macs are out. :54:

YEP. YEARS AGO I HAD A HAWK LAND ON OUR BALCONY PEERING IN AT THE "BIRD TREATS" SITTING ON THE PLAYSTAND IN MY WINDOW, AND MY NAPE, AND MY RED LORED IMMEDIATELY TOOK OFF IN A PANIC IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. BOTH HIT THE WINDOW, HARD ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY CRACK THE GLASS...

(They were both kept fully flighted at the time.) Two birdie concussions, and a trip to the birdie ER for both of them. They were fine in a few days... but I was pretty shaken up.

My landlord wasn't happy.

 

[Birdman666]

To me, clipping is a personal decision.

This is my PERSONAL VIEW only.

There are times when it isn't optional. When you have a dangerous, untrained territorial bird, and those I short clip... these are the birds that would potentially inflict injury, and would not be willingly controlled.

(Sally started out short clipped. Had to be. She was attacking people with intent to maim!)

As she trained up, her wings were allowed to grow out, and she was kept semi-flighted. I worked with her for awhile in that condition, and got her to the point where she would fly across the room to me.

At THAT POINT she began free fly training, and gradually, she was allowed full flight privileges...

Maggie is also kept fully flighted.

Sweepea was for awhile, but we had a few incidents where she flew off on me, and I had to go find her, so we stopped the free flight stuff with her, and kept her semi-flighted.

Py was fully flighted, and free flown. He also got hit by a car and killed! SO, THERE'S THAT... Free flight experiment ended, for me, anyway.

EVERYONE ELSE I keep Semi-flighted. They can fly across the room. They can glide to the ground. They can get out of their own way, confidently, if need be.

If you clip them too short they can very easily be injured.

Flighted birds in the house can also very easily be injured. (Ceiling fans, windows, walls, kitchen stoves, sinks, etc.)

You don't ever clip them before they have fully fledged.

Other than that, it's a personal choice.

AND THIS IS THE LAST TIME I EVER POST ANYTHING ON A WING CLIPPING THREAD, THIS TOPIC HAS BEEN DONE TO DEATH, AND HAS GOTTEN STALE.

 

[Notdumasilook]

Trust me its possible!!! hahaha, and they can crawl under bathroom doors (excuse me, privacy please!) too. We still keep Kiwi flighted though, even though she follows us everywhere!

Gosh my SC will not let me "go potty" by myself. Only danger there is their instinct to attack anything that looks like a SNAKE!!.
As for windows and mirrors... I have most bird proofed for their safety, and the ones that aren't have enuff dirt on em that they don't attempt. (what can I say..Im a man).

 

[ToMang07]

Gosh my SC will not let me "go potty" by myself. Only danger there is their instinct to attack anything that looks like a SNAKE!!.
As for windows and mirrors... I have most bird proofed for their safety, and the ones that aren't have enuff dirt on em that they don't attempt. (what can I say..Im a man).

Another reason I love my shower perch.

 

[Anansi]

...If you keep your parrot flightless (like a dropped stone), you must keep your parrot in its cage since this type of feather cutting is very dangerous to the health of your parrot should it attempt flight from height.

There is no right or wrong, only different levels of responsibility, all have their advantages and their dangers.

Actually, I must raise issue with this clipping technique. Most of you know that I always keep my birds flighted, but I do believe that whether or not to clip is a personal choice... to a point. You see, I also believe that clipping your parrot so that he/she drops like a stone is not only unnecessary, but quite dangerous as well. Taking away a bird's basic ability to even slow its descent in the event of a fall can never be in the best interests of the bird. Not when the result can be a broken keel bone, wing, or leg. Or worse.

I do like your thought about everyone lightening up and enjoying the intended humor of the original post, but I had to speak on this one aspect of what you'd written. (And I know you weren't advocating it.)

That kind of clipping is never okay. It is wrong. And there is no justification for it.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Very VERY well said, Stephen! I 100% agree with you!!

 

[Birdman666]

Short clipping means glide to the floor.

Long clipping means retains a limited flight capability, just not able to fly long distances on their own.

I agree with Steven, at NO TIME is it acceptable to turn a bird into a ROCK!

They will get hurt or killed, and they really can't do anything without the risk of serious injury. One fall, and that could be it...

 

[Scott]

Wondering if the decision to clip is somewhat dependent on species?

Anecdotally I've observed my 5 Goffins are supremely nimble (tame and wild-caught) and have never flown into an errant object. My Timnehs born in captivity are klutzes and have had less than desirable landings. The larger Cockatoos rarely seem to fly, while my BFA is a good straight-line flyer.

So, my caveat to the above is a small sample size!

 

[jasper19]

To me, clipping is a personal decision.

There are times when it isn't optional. When you have a dangerous, untrained territorial bird, and those I short clip... these are the birds that would potentially inflict injury, and would not be willingly controlled.

This has come to be my view over time as well.

At first i was like "well no bird should be clipped how horrible"...

but with time, i came to my sense. If the bird is a danger to itself, etc...then there is no other choice.

If the bird is fine being flighted, doesn't fly all crazy or often, then i think its ok. Angel has been fine so far, so she stays flighted. If all of a sudden she started to fly in a panic when i didnt want her to, her flightedness probably wont last long.

So i agree, its a personal decision for the caretaker of the bird. They are in the position to know what is best for their bird, with their birds behavior.

Sorry for all the typos in this post...it is very late i am sleepy goodnight.

 

[svheartsdesire]

I keep Ivan clipped because we go places,together..Lowes...our favorite bar(s)the Park..just about anywhere they do not serve food..we live in Florida and go out a lot...Bill