wing clipping... how often?

[ticklemebink]

HI there, My lil guy is only 8 weeks old but I like to head a head start of what to look forward to.
I was wondering if there is special way to clip where the bird can make it to the top of his cage if needed, ( cats dogs etc) but not enough to actually take flight.
This may be a stupid question. but I will assume if this special clipping is possible, we would end up having to do it more often than normal.
what is the normal time frame in between clippings usually for a greenwing macaw?

 

[jew1187]

There is a way to have the wings clipped so they can still get a little flight when needed. You can tell your vet that you still want him to be able to get a little air in times of need. Skyler's wings are clipped enough that he is not going anywhere but that he can get to the top of his cage if need be. Actually about mid cage and then climbs up the rest of the way. lol. And I am not certain on this one but you should only have to have his wings clipped about once a year or so after he molts. Once the feather is clipped it doesn't grow back so the bird has to molt in order to get those flight wings back to full length.

 

[ticklemebink]

There is a way to have the wings clipped so they can still get a little flight when needed. You can tell your vet that you still want him to be able to get a little air in times of need. Skyler's wings are clipped enough that he is not going anywhere but that he can get to the top of his cage if need be. Actually about mid cage and then climbs up the rest of the way. lol. And I am not certain on this one but you should only have to have his wings clipped about once a year or so after he molts. Once the feather is clipped it doesn't grow back so the bird has to molt in order to get those flight wings back to full length.

wow I dont know that. I thought they grow back but thats what the molting is. good info thank you!
I have seen some wing cuts were its just the center feathers trimmed but the last 2 or 3 on the ends are left. loks nice also when they stretch out.

 

[MikeyTN]

It looks nice but they can still take flight!!! Trimming is done around twice a year but it also depends if the trimmed feather falls off cause it grows right back.

 

[wildheart]

Here is a link that is really informative.

Flight Training for the Clumsy Parrot

Check out the whole website as well, lots to learn.

Bird Information

My girl was cut wrong the first time and she dropped like a rock to the ground for almost 4 months - it was a HORRIBLE-HORRIBLE time! Only a year later did she molt and she started flying and again another vet clipped her wrong and she is back at squire one!

I wonder if I can take her back so he can pull the wrong cut feathers out so we can correct the problem faster and not wait a whole year again? I imagine it might be painful, but what is more painful - the second of pain pulling it out or falling for a year?

 

[Kokihi]

Here is a link that is really informative.

Flight Training for the Clumsy Parrot

Check out the whole website as well, lots to learn.

Bird Information

My girl was cut wrong the first time and she dropped like a rock to the ground for almost 4 months - it was a HORRIBLE-HORRIBLE time! Only a year later did she molt and she started flying and again another vet clipped her wrong and she is back at squire one!

I wonder if I can take her back so he can pull the wrong cut feathers out so we can correct the problem faster and not wait a whole year again? I imagine it might be painful, but what is more painful - the second of pain pulling it out or falling for a year?

THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS!!!!

I've been looking all over for a good sight on training birds to fly. My poor little Tori bird wasn't allowed to learn to fly, and I want to make sure that he does it safely!

 

[jew1187]

There is a way to have the wings clipped so they can still get a little flight when needed. You can tell your vet that you still want him to be able to get a little air in times of need. Skyler's wings are clipped enough that he is not going anywhere but that he can get to the top of his cage if need be. Actually about mid cage and then climbs up the rest of the way. lol. And I am not certain on this one but you should only have to have his wings clipped about once a year or so after he molts. Once the feather is clipped it doesn't grow back so the bird has to molt in order to get those flight wings back to full length.

wow I dont know that. I thought they grow back but thats what the molting is. good info thank you!
I have seen some wing cuts were its just the center feathers trimmed but the last 2 or 3 on the ends are left. loks nice also when they stretch out.

That is how Skyler's are clipped. He can still fly. But he is not getting far. It does look really nice and if you didn't know his wings were clipped you wouldn't be able to tell until he opens his wings.

 

[DustyDusky]

Dusty's wings are clipped. I have cats and a dog in the house. My dog frequently takes Dusty on walks around the house (He likes to sit on her collar as she walks around). When the cats are indoors i keep a special eye on them and Dusty when he is out of his cage. I clip his wings about once a year.

 

[ticklemebink]

Here is a link that is really informative.

Flight Training for the Clumsy Parrot

Check out the whole website as well, lots to learn.

Bird Information

My girl was cut wrong the first time and she dropped like a rock to the ground for almost 4 months - it was a HORRIBLE-HORRIBLE time! Only a year later did she molt and she started flying and again another vet clipped her wrong and she is back at squire one!

I wonder if I can take her back so he can pull the wrong cut feathers out so we can correct the problem faster and not wait a whole year again? I imagine it might be painful, but what is more painful - the second of pain pulling it out or falling for a year?

going to go check out the site now thank you. and that is horrible they screwed up the sings 2 times. would have a fit!
Im think I may trim my lil guy myself testing it out inch by inch till hes flying how i need him to lol I would love to succeed at flight training or at least the harness training. lets see what that site has to teach me thank you

 

[akparrots]

If you are going to clip your parrot you must let the flight feathers mature or you risk bleeding your bird to death. Only trim the last four or five flights under the secondarys. If you have small parrots they will be able to fly with varying degrees you will have to learn what suits your bird the best. Ours typically regain flight after they grow a new feather or two so trimming really does not prevent all flight. If your bird falls like a rock that is too much. Also if you leave flight feathers at the wingtips they will get broken much easier which I do not recommend also. After you chase a bird who is rapidly bleeding out so you can pull the broken blood feather you will realize what looks pretty and what is correct are two different things. Also I would never pull a wing feather just for fun, you can seriously injure the wing or kill your parrot, and your vet shouldn't either unless they have an extremely good reason, the bird will molt soon enough.