Wing clipping

[nickis715]

Hi everyone! Quick question, do my fellow macaw owners clip their own birds wings? It was recommended to me that I do not clip Khaleesi's wings myself because it could cause her not to trust me. If anyone could share an experience, good or bad with clipping your own birds' wings I would appreciate it. The last time I brought her to get clipped she was truly traumatized and her beak bothered her for a few days,she escaped off the table and clunked it on the floor

 

[MonicaMc]

Sorry I don't own a macaw (if you don't count their little cousins the conures! )

My questions... why do you want to clip? And her wings clipped previously, why was her beak bothering her? Did they trim that, too? A healthy bird with a healthy beak does not need their beak trimmed! Or is it that she accidentally hurt herself? (which sounds like the cause)


I don't clip, but I do have to use a dremel on my mitred conure's beak. He thought he could bully a blind ruby macaw and got the short end of the stick... he could bully around 3 amazons, so why not the macaw, too??? That was 7 years ago! (and btw, he's *MY* largest parrot!)

He's actually much nicer to me after I trim his beak! He doesn't hate me or avoid me, but he does know the difference between me and the dremel! He doesn't like the dremel... It's actually a lot more stressful on *us* (yes, us!) to have someone else trim his beak than if I were to do it alone! (mind you, it's a two person job....)


Wing clipping is nothing compared to dremeling a beak!

 

[MikeyTN]

I clipped Willie's wings on my own, or any bird I decide to clip, I do my own clipping. Doing the nails or beak is what bothers me doing myself but I can do it and I've done it before. My birds can get mad at me for a day or two then they get over it. I just did Willie's nails two weeks ago and he was upset but got over it shortly. I think it's because he's been with me for so long....

 

[MsPony]

I hand feed and raise babies (professionally, it's my job), and clipping is required after their first full flight (I stick them in a safe, non windowed room with things to land on, daily, and wait for them to take first, real flight), and they have never held it against me. They get a little upset being toweled, but they are fine after a moment of "why did you grab me and cover me?!" I don't do anything bigger then a conure though (yet!)

Are you taking your bird to an avian specific vet?

 

[MikeyTN]

Forgot to mention, if your inexperienced in clipping, clipping a Macaw on your own would be a hassle as I wouldn't recommend it....best to just bring her to the vet and have them do it but ask them to be more careful so she wouldn't get hurt in the process. The main thing you need to watch for is blood feathers as they should know that at the vet clinic before they clip. Clipping macaw feathers requires a strong pair of sharp scissors!

 

[willist]

I raised Auggie from 5 weeks old, he used to let me clip his wings but after a few years he would walk away when he saw me coming ready to clip his wings. Now I let the women who owns the bird shop do it. Its also easier because she can do nails and beak at the same time. Plus she has help when needed and I don't. With Auggie's wings clipped he gets to go all over town and to the beach. He's a big celebrity. People from all over the country and around the world have taken his picture,

 

[nickis715]

I had our friend who we bought her from clip her wings just as he always has since she was a baby. Her beak was sore because she got away from him and clunked to the floor. She was all up in arms after we were finished and not the same for 2 days afterwards. We do our conure's wings ourselves and he doesn't hold it against us after a day or so. MonicaMC, the reason we clip her is because we take her outside and don't want her going too far away from us or flying to the road. We have had her since she was 11 weeks and I am finally able to lay her on her back and hold her "like a baby". This is why I am nervous to betray her trust in me by clipping her wings in that position.

 

[MonicaMc]

As long as you are aware that even a properly clipped parrot can still fly and get lost...


There's a photo of a B&G flying with clipped wings - although the outer primaries have grown out.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...0151445114766199_634716886_n.jpg&size=960,548

And a video of same bird flying.
[ame=http://youtu.be/_1Pv4pMu9Nc]My macaw, Jikko, flying - YouTube[/ame]




Poor baby! Hope she doesn't have any more incidents with hurting her beak!



I can understand wanting to take parrots places and keeping them safe. That's why I have a harness for Charlie while we are outside - and he's flighted! Here's a video I have of him flying in the harness.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13XmlniLKd4]Charlie Flying Outside - YouTube[/ame]





I've only had Charlie for going on 7 years, and he's 19 years old now. He's always been trusting, and I can lay him down in the palm of my hand and gently toss him in the air. I typically only use one hand and just gently toss him, or I'll toss and turn him at the same time. I can also swing him around on my hand and he seems to really get into it!

Now, I don't have a video of either one, but I did come across another mitred conure who's video was taken being swung around. Charlie doesn't get into it *that* much, but he still seems to enjoy it!

[ame=http://youtu.be/ZfE2m1w2oDE]Playful Mitred Conure - YouTube[/ame]

 

[JerseyWendy]

I must say a mac in motion is just gorgeous.

I am determined to keep mine fully flighted - both of them. Seeing how much fun they've been having I just can't take it away from them ever again.

 

[Buzz2537]

Some may disagree but I believe in leaving them flighted. I have read a lot on it and spoke to my Avian vet and he too does not agree with clipping. It leaves them in secure and with babies, it is important they learn to fledge. My Too was fully flighted and she did fine and I intend on keeping my Hahns Macaw Hahnna flighted as soon as her wings grow in again. There is a draw back in you have that chance of them getting out and flying away, but we are extra careful. If you like to take your bird with you, the Aviator Harness is wonderful.

 

[forbey]

I used to clip our budgies and figured it was for their best. When Skittles came to our home he hadn't been clipped for some time. I was talking to a loal bird breeder and pet store owner about clipping his bird's wings. His response has seriously brought doubt to the thought of getting Skittles' wings clipped. He said "I never clip my pet birds, because I don't want our relationship damaged by traumatizing him. So I always have the vet do it." So if clipping his wings would be too traumatic to do myself, why would I want anyone else to trahmatize him?

Still battling with the idea.

 

[MikeyTN]

Some may disagree but I believe in leaving them flighted. I have read a lot on it and spoke to my Avian vet and he too does not agree with clipping. It leaves them in secure and with babies, it is important they learn to fledge. My Too was fully flighted and she did fine and I intend on keeping my Hahns Macaw Hahnna flighted as soon as her wings grow in again. There is a draw back in you have that chance of them getting out and flying away, but we are extra careful. If you like to take your bird with you, the Aviator Harness is wonderful.

Thus the reason why we always tell everyone it is a personal choice! I have had vets suggest clipping just as those that says not to.