To clip or not to clip

[tj3752]

Hi, I have a sun conure named sonny that is one year old. I have let his flight feathers grow out. Sonny is a great flyer the only problem now is when I go to put him up he gives me a hard time by flying up and sitting on top of the kitchen cabinets. I really don't want to clip his wings not unless I have no choice. Any help would be nice.

 

[MonicaMc]

Try training him to fly to his cage for a reward. Favorite foods, treats, etc.

Also, when it's time for him to go in, you might try lowering the lights before taking him back to his cage.

Through-out the day when you have him out of his cage, take him to his cage, give him something to for a few minutes (treat, foraging, toys, etc). After a few minutes, take him back out! This may help teach him that going back to the cage isn't a bad thing and doesn't always mean staying put in his cage.

 

[MollyGreenCheeks]

Ya had to go there didn't ya!!! LOL The can of worms has been opened again...

This is a very emotional issue for some and they will plead you not to clip the wings because it is natural for birds to fly and they believe it is cruel to prevent them from doing so.

Others feel that it is wrong not to clip because a flighted bird can crash into windows, mirrors, flee from you if they want to, can be more difficult to train, fly out open doors or windows, or get themselves into more trouble throughout the home.

The reason you state is specifically why I clipped Cody's wings after he had begun flying. On the other hand, Molly used to fly up on top of cabinets and such and began to enjoy a game of hide and seek. I clipped Molly's wings at that time (about a year ago) and since that time Molly has gone through a full molt, has been flighted for about 4 months, and I've not had any issues since that have required another clipping.

Personally, if you have difficulties as you state then I would get the wings "trimmed". I will never again have my babies go from full flighted to a full clipping as I've see too much "crash and burn" landings. If you clip them in increments they can learn to land much easier without the lift the flight feathers provide. I think it's much safer. Maybe one clipping is all you'll need to get Sonny back in line. Good luck!

 

[khaiqha]

You can train your bird to go back for treats. You can also try timing it so that you only feed him each time you have to put him up. Eventually he'll learnt that the cage means food.

If the kitchen cabinets are a concern, you can do two things to keep him off there. Either a) put boxes/curtain up there to wall him off, or b) put something he's terrified of on there and he won't fly there. Seriously, my IRN is scared of stuffed animals and my Alex is terrified of cardboard. I guard my electronics with stuffed animals and cardboard and they stay untouched.