Clipping pros and cons

S

Sophie's Mama

New member
Jul 6, 2010
11
0
Austin, Texas
Parrots
I am the proud owner of a Dusky Pionus, An African Grey, A Mullocan Cockatoo, A a Blue and Gold Macaw
I am the member of another parrot forum, I have noticed that if you clip your birds wings, you are looked upon as a bad bird owner....I clip my birds wings, I live in a very active household and because of a revolving door, lots of kids, frequent company, and 7 dogs. I find it a safety measure to clip their wings. I realize that birds can fly a bit even if clipped, but think my chances of catching up to them if accidentally let out of the house will be greater if clipped. * All of my birds are out of cages in the day time and have lots of toys. I do not take them outside uncaged. How many of you clip or are full flighted?;)
 
Personally I believe it depends on preference and lifestyle. There are always risks either way you go. :p

Hiroshi my GCC I adopted is currently clipped but I am letting his wings grow out. :)
 
Ok, if you clip birds, that does not classify you as a bad bird owner. Some people do, but it's their opinion. Think about the safety of your babies. In the household you said you have, clipping wings would be a lot safer for them. Plus their wings grow back. It's your choice but I highly suggest clipping your birds wings. They will thank you for it when a dangerous situation arises and they can't fly into the danger. Plus when working with clipped birds, it will strengthen your bond with them because they will depend on YOU to get them where they need to go. Good luck with what choice you make.
 
Hi again Sophie's Mom! I also think it is a personal preference. If you have a very active household with lots of opening of doors, I for one would clip.
Sometimes people can be hurtful with thier words when trying to get thier points across. The pros and cons of clipping is and will always be a hot topic. Respect for one anothers opinions and feelings is important on these public boards.
 
Yes it is a personal choice based upon the lifestyle you have established for your bird. Chances are nill that my bird would get outside. I am in a 2nd floor apt. with window screens. My birds wings are clipped for indoor safety. It is wonderful to see the birds that are not clipped flying around and enjoying the world.

Hope you like our forum and stick around.
 
Hi again SM, you'll find here too on this forum that there are differing opinions on wing clipping, don't know that you can say that there is a wrong or right side to this topic, I wrote in another thread " A Fool And His/Her Bird May Soon Be Parted", as I was speaking of my own experience of almost losing one of my Galahs a couple of weeks ago from not having them fully clipped, I have always believed in clipping and probably always will,unfortunatly many birds that escape into the wild die a slow death from starvation,dehydration or predation, I wont take that chance, but as mentioned in other posts its a personal decision based on your beliefs and cicumstances......
 
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #7
Thanks for the info and opinions, I agree that a full flighted bird in flight is amazing! I just have enough trouble keeping my kids and their friends form letting the dogs out, let alone a bird with a full set of flight feathers.....I will stick with clipping for now!:)
 
Sophie's Mama said:
if you clip your birds wings, you are looked upon as a bad bird owner.......... I find it a safety measure to clip their wings.
Click to expand...

[FONT=&quot]Anyone that calls you a bad owner for making a safe decision for your birds clearly doesn't have their priorities straight. ;)

So don't worry about them - as others have said, it is purely a decision that needs to be made by you. I personally don't clip anymore, but that is because it suits me and my birds, and I have a fairly 'bird safe' house. This may not work for you and you have made a safe, educated decision to clip, so good on you[/FONT]:)
 
Clipping doesn't make you a bad bird owner! Every household is different and every bird is different. I have 8 parrots and two teenagers 1 dog and 3 cats at home. All of my birds are clipped except for my 15yr old CAG. He was never fledged and kinda unsure of himself. Letting him grow his flights in seemed to improve his confidence. Even though he has no idea he can fly he seems to have better balance since his flights grew in. To clip or not to clip is definitely a hot topic but should be a personal decision based on your home and lifestyle and bird. As beautiful as a bird in flight is I couldn't imagine one in my home. I like to know where everyone is for their safety and my peace of mind!
 
Last year, all my birds were clipped. This year, Abbey, Sadie, and Charlie are flighted. Levi's flights are growing back, and he manages short flights. I love to watch the Budgies, and Charlie fly...so graceful, and they take such joy in it. I'm trying Levi flighted, and I'll decide whether he stays flighted depending on how it goes...Freddie is clipped, so he's easier to manage for me, right now.

I have to be extremely careful, and so does my husband. If we forget and open a door while the birds are out, we could have a disaster. I lost a Bourke last month, due to a second of carelessness, and I suspect he died of starvation or dehydration. There's just the two of us, so we can be careful. In busy homes, with children, I wouldn't hesitate to clip.
 
Marnie is clipped. i think its best for her not to be able to fly away from me or escape. there is a lot of debate about this on the other board, but this is my thoughts.....
yes birds fly, its necessary for their survival in the wild, but when we subject them to living in our homes with our "stuff", many of it dangerous to them,
then we need to be sure they are safe.
Marnie is very precious to me and i would die if anything happened to her because she flew into a window, the fan, on the stove, or out the door etc.
when i find her on the floor i can just go pick her up, give her a little cuddle time, and put her safely back in her cage.
i take her camping with me and outside all the time. she gets to explore the low (safe) branches and has a great time.
right now she is going out on the deck with me while i enjoy a cup of coffee with her and keep and eye out for my free flying budgie who is now lost forever.
1st camping trip:
007-4.jpg

4th of july camping trip: she blends in well
022-1.jpg

close up:
023.jpg
 
Last edited:
Although we don't always agree on things here (that would be boring) I hope you will never feel like a bad person for doing what you feel is best for your bird. My girls are both clipped and it suit me to have them this way however I ever get them used to a harness I'll think about letting thier wings grow out
 
I agree with the other posters here...it's your decision and it's made to fit your home and make your birds as safe as possible.

All of our birds are fully flighted - well, Max is almost, he's just getting his flights back from a bad clip given by his previous owner. But this fits our lifestyle. And our household doesn't sound nearly as busy as yours.

Are your birds healthy and happy? Good. Then that's all that matters.
 
Hey Di, if Jade flies over here I'm not giving her back.....lol:p
 
lol......the Basil wouldn't be a problem, the husband on the other hand is a different story, I was thinking of possibly getting another BTM and saw that the breeder also had some RFM's, not sure what you paid for yours, but the price has really gone down on them, I couldn't believe it $650 unweaned, looked at them a couple of years ago and they were in the $1200 range for an unweaned baby.............
 
:greenyellow: Marnie is well hidden in that 2nd pic, it took me ages to pick her out from all that greenery lol - she is beautiful..as are your rosie toos Bobby :red::red:

We need some pink birdy smileys :p
 
lol.....Thanks MPW, my little pink chickens are a handful and half, just ask Mel she'll tell you,will make any sane person crazy in no time.....
 
Cody was already clipped when I purchased him, however, that was over a year ago. He just grew back in his last flight about a month ago and I plan on keeping him flighted unless he starts any dangerous behavior (dive bombing family members, for example). Our house is pretty small, has no ceiling fans, and isn't a huge amount of in and out traffic. It's very safe in here for him. We do have a cat, but she goes up into another room when Cody is out. And when someone is out of the house, I either don't take Cody out, or I'll call them to make sure they're going to be a while. And if someone is cooking on the stove, he also doesn't come out.

Just takes some precautions, but I find that Cody is much more confident now that he's flighted. He used to freak out when I'd leave the room, because he knew he couldn't get to me. Now, he'll either just stay put entertaining himself, or just follow me. :p I also find he's more independent, and is starting to explore away from me now (which I want, he used to be sooo clingy!). It does take caution though, and I realize not everyone would feel comfortable managing a flighted bird. But it's also important to remember that there are risks for clipped birds just like there are risks for flighted birds.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Harness training and recall for flighted birds

Previous Thread

Target Training with my Roshi

Next Thread

Most Reactions

Similar threads

4 way borbs
I just clipped my birds wings
Replies
8
Views
2K
Inko-ai
Inko-ai
Squawk_SA
My Pineapple Conure won't stop biting me when I pick him up.
Replies
3
Views
747
Maya The Ringneck
Maya The Ringneck
A
Help to tame my ringneck
Replies
3
Views
454
wrench13
wrench13
P
I HAVE COCKATIEL QUESTIONS!!
Replies
6
Views
773
Kkcherries
K
Flapjack
Should I clip my bird’s wings?
Replies
11
Views
2K
wrench13
wrench13

Latest posts

Back
Top