The African Grey – To Clip or Not to Clip

[Guest Monique]

There are two schools of thought regarding the question whether or not we should clip our birds wings.

 

As we all know, we are blessed to have in our lives a wild bird who, most likely knows us as their flock. They are in a very unnatural state to be kept in a cage versus free range in the wild. If you think of our pet dogs – we very often take them out for walks, to fetch, or to run around the house … yet our birds – many times for our own convenience, we clip their wings so they cannot get to places where we don’t want them. What makes us think that it is okay to damage their primary mode of transportation – can you imagine being that bird going to fly and suddenly realizing your wings no longer work and you flutter to the floor. Now as a bird that uses flight as means of escape you have no escape and are completely at the mercy of the environment around you. How terrorizing indeed.

 

A domestic bird can safely be kept in an unclipped state in your home. To do so, you have to have a parrot proof home which means that when she is out and not 100% under your control you cannot have open water, hot burners, fast moving fans, and poisonous items that she could ingest.

 

Some people take the unclipped state a step further and teach their bird to free fly on command, and some will also partake of this outdoors using a bird harness, such as the Aviator Harness (this brand has the best reviews of all those I have heard). If you wish to do this it generally takes a consistent commitment to introduce your bird to the harness slowly and gently and to consistently use it after training to keep your bird familiar.

 

Some people are very uncomfortable with a flying bird in their home. They may not be able to appropriately bird-proof the house where they are comfortable having their bird free-flighted. If you choose to clip your birds wings then consult a reputable breeder for assistance in clipping them – or go to your veterinarian’s with a predetermined understanding of how the bird should be clipped. Parrots are not a common pet and because of this not everyone knows the latest and greatest methods. For instance, some veterinarians still operate under the old philosophy to clip only one wing which turns out is not good for a bird, it makes them very awkward to have one wing in normal order and one wing short, which of course affects them mentally as well. Also – be aware that oftentimes a bird with clipped wings can still fly given enough motivation (fear event) and should be handled outside using a harness, or inside a safe holder to ensure you never lose your bird.

 

Finally, over time breeders have found that allowing Greys to learn how to fly is critical to their development. Greys who learn how to fly, also called fledging, tend to be better balanced pets in the long-run. Therefore, this is one question I would recommend asking any breeder prior to selecting one – to see if they believe in fledging their birds or not. And, if you happen to get a bird that never has fledged, and you wish to keep it clipped, if you can bear through allowing your bird to learn to fly first it would be very beneficial to her confidence and mental health.

[Guest Monique]

This article has been posted to the Health & Nutrition section.

[Tari]

Nicely done you showed both sides of this debate in a factual way.

[Guest Monique]

Thanks Tari!

[Toni]

Well after what I saw today and heard today I vote to clip. Today I went to see my baby and was told it was flying around for its first time however they were so kindly to tell me that it took 15 mins to find it and they had the postman to help. Then when I went to visit it took them 15 mins for it to come off of the lights which were 12 ft high and they used a net to catch it, so in order for my baby to be safe I say clip....

[judygram]

Toni, they have to allow it to fly some so it can learn to land properly, but they should allow that in an enclosed place where it has not where it can get away from them. Then when landing is accomplished the wings can be clipped, and if you feel safer with the wings clipped then that is your decision.

 

I want to thank Monique for an excellent commentary on clipping or not clipping the wings, very thorough and factual, very nice work.

[Tari]

I completely understand where you are coming from. However Grey's should be allowed to fly and learn to land before they are clipped. I even allow my quakers some flying while young before I do a slight clip they can still fly just not get high.

Mine however is clipped.

[RobertsKitty]

I plan on clipping after my Grey has fledged then using only a very slight clip so flight is still possible but they can't gain any height. Outside I will use the avitor harness and with the wind perhaps it can gain some distance and get good exercise.

[danmcq]

Very well done article Monique!

 

The Breeder insisted on clipping Dayo before we could bring him home after he had fledged.

 

He can still fly partially in short spurts, but not gain any real height.

 

I am undecided which way I will go on the clipping. I have an Aviator Harness and will be taking Dayo outside with it.

[Guest Monique]

Thanks Dan! I think that is pretty standard what most breeders do. I am not sure why they don't do more asking and discussion rather than assuming or requiring a clip but I'm sure they have their reasons.

[nevjoe]

I asked a lot of bird owners what they thought about this subject. They ALL cut their birds wings. Too many problems they had before the were cut. Many were SAD one that left the birds harmed, like flying into a ceailing fan, fell into a hot pan, and so on.

 

The main reason for me to clip his wings was selfish.

 

I cut Hemingway's wings because I want to keep him from harms way like I did with my children. He depends on me to keep him safe, even though he don't know Im doing it.

 

 

How can I let him fly, then take it away from him some day? Thats Really Curle. What he don't know wont harm him latter or make him sad.

 

Joe

[Talon]

I understand what you are saying, but in my case, I let Talons wings grow out because she could only fly downward and land on the floor, where we have 2 cats ready to pounce. I keep her wings unclipped for her own safety. She always flies and lands up high where they can't get to her.

[Pryde]

You know that is exactly what I was thinking with the dogs. She likes to fly down to get to me, I think. I would like her to 1. actually make it to me, it that is what she is aiming for and 2. for her to be able to fly back up out of the way of the dogs if she needs to...

[judygram]

If it works for the two of you, Talon and Pryde, then that makes sense to me, one of you has to watch out for the cats and the other has to watch out for the dogs. In that situation, you both made a wise choice and that is exactly what it is a choice.

[danmcq]

Pryde -

 

How are your Dogs doing with your new Grey?

 

Mine both sometimes will go to the cage, watch for a while and if Dayo does something that alerts them they starting barking at him like mad.

 

I scold them everytime and it's not working so far.

 

I put them up everytime I let Dayo out. I do not trust them NOT to hurt him, though I think they are more inquisitive than anything.

 

They have been fine with my Conure and in fact he has flown down and landed directly in front of them. Of course it frightened me and I have done some serious acrobatics to get there and swoop him up before they have a chance to think about the possibilities. :-)

[Talon]

Pryde, I love it when Talon flies to us! She will fly to our shoulder, or onto our hand when we put it up. Sometimes she will fly from her play cage to her playstand in the next room, or into the kitchen onto her swing, if she chooses. She mostly prefers to be carried from once place to the other. She doesn't just free fly in the house. But if we ignore her whistles to us, she will come in search of us. :silly:

[Pryde]

Right now I take her from room to room with me, or put her away, as I don't want her to come searching for me, much too dangerous in this house. She is still clipped at this point. The breeder clipped her after she fledged. From the top of her playtop cage she makes it about 10-15 feet.

 

The dogs each have gone at her in her cage. She had come to the front and was flapping her wings like crazy and it really set them off, 2 separate occasions and 2 different sets of dogs. Well, I don't take things like that lightly and they only each did it once, the wrath of mom is just not worth it.

 

Since then I have taken her out and let her hang on the couch with me. They show initial interest then quickly lay down and ignore her. She has flew off her cage and landed around the dogs. My largest, most prey driven dog won't even get up anymore and the others aren't so much the bite first ask questions later type. I have gotten really good at reading them and their intentions. In fact last night Pryde decided to fly off and LAND on the beagle who was curled up in a chair. The beagle hardly looked at her, but I still move faster than I ever thought I could.

 

Mostly not the dogs hang out under her cage to eat the food she drops. The also get a treat of all the uneaten fresh food she leaves behind. They love anyone who will feed them <br><br>Post edited by: Pryde, at: 2007/08/14 16:08

[danmcq]

LoL!! I can just imagine the shock on your Beagles Face :-)

 

I don't think either of my Dobies would have a non-reaction, such as that.

 

As I am sure you know, they are a pretty high strung breed. When startled , they nip first and apologize later, if necessary. :ohmy:

 

It will take some time to get them calmed down and used to Dayo and his activities inside the Cage.

 

He has gotten now to where he goes to the side of the cage, opens his beak and say's "Ya want some of this" :angry:

 

Then he walks back and resumes what ever he was doing :-)

[loviechick]

Well written article kudos!

 

I definitely think that all birds should be fledged then clipped, I'm just paranoid as itzazu2u has had it happen, a bird with a good clip that wasn't a known flyer took off, I'm just thankful she found him unscathed! That was a good enough learning lesson for me!

[lovemyGreys]

Monique A first class article showing both sides.

I know wing clipping will always be a debatable subject & we should respect each others opinions.There will always be pros & cons.

Personally i dont clip my greys.

[dblhelix]

I posted the majority of this text previously in the "Wing Clipping??" thread but still feel it is valuable to add to this one:

 

Wing clipping is a subject I have some thoughts about, as it is a constant source of debate. If you are going to handicap the bird (eg clip) do it responsibly to minimize the negatives of the clip. There is much more information available today regarding clipping and its impact on the birds, pros/cons for owners etc than ever before. Bobby Brinker has some really good information on wing clipping in general, the best ways to do it and the advantages of allowing a bird to fully fledge.

 

Personally I will keep my bird flighted although Kip was clipped when I bought her. The breeder only allowed her 1, One, thats right ONE flight before clipping...So I plan to refledge her and then keep her flighted after the first molt. This is absolutely a personal choice that must be made by each owner in consideration of living situations etc. There are pros and cons to both.

 

However, it stands to reason that birds have evolved over thousands of years to fly. Taking away this natural instinct and amazing ability must have some negative effects on the animal. There is more and more scientific data that supports the value of at least allowing birds to fully fledge. It affects their balance and mental development on a neurological level that impacts them for their entire life. Their urge to fledge as youngsters is so strong they instinctively reduce eating and drop weight in preparation for learning to fly. There is a lot of data now showing that birds who never master "controlled flight" are clumsy, more likely to be insecure and feather pickers. In nature Greys are not clumsy at all, on the contrary they are beautiful, graceful animals. It makes sense that the unnatural clipping could make the bird distrust their very own feathers and pick at them since they cannot trust their own bodies to do what they are meant to do. This can lead to all kinds of emotional problems for the animal. In addition the affects on their cardiovascular system is noteworthy. Their entire heart/lung system is evolved to provide the extraordinary circulation and oxygen necessary for all the energy flying uses. Birds that do not fly have a higher incidence of health problems in life just like people who do not exercise have heart problems, high cholesterol etc.

 

My grandmothers red lored amazon, in the family now for over 37 years, is fully flighted. My cockatiel and budgie both were fully flighted and lived relatively long healthy lives (None of the 3 aforementioned birds went the vet even ONCE!!!) No doubt living with a flighted bird can be very challenging and requires careful assessment to take on that risk. My budgie never got out (if he would he would have probably been unrecoverable). Our Amazon has accidentally gotten out no more than 5 times in 36 years and fortunately each time we were able to recover him, but it is really scary.

 

However, to think that a clipped bird is "safer" really is a false sense of security. Clipped birds can and do fly when spooked and under stressful situations. There are many stories of owners taking fully clipped birds outside only to watch in amazement as their clipped bird flies off in a spook and is unrecoverable. Moreoever, a fully flight proficient bird is more likely to return to you if it does escape as they know how to "fly downwards". Unskilled fliers usually only fly up in fear and then do not have the skills or confidence to return. In addition, it is rare at best that a flight proficient bird flies into windows, hot pots etc when indoors. Not to say it cannot happen. Surely an owner with a flighted bird must be aware of certain dangers, but so must an owner with a clipped bird.

 

All that being said, for me the decision is simple when considering all the factors...keep them flighted. Its an amazing thing to see them fly, hover, maneuver. You can tell they were born to do it and love doing it. To me, part of owning a bird is living with and appreciating the amazing gift and beauty of flight.

 

**Update: Kip is going through her first major molt and has replaced 4 primary flights of the 7 that were clipped. She now absolutely can "fly", though clearly she is not skilled yet. She has bonked into the walls a few times, though we limit indoor flight training to a few rooms where the windows are covered etc. She now clearly is gaining control, can change directions elegantly in mid air and is beginning to control her landings with precision. She also does mini flight-hops at longer and longer training distances from my hand to her cage or on our couch. She is clearly mastering control of her body and becoming more confident! No doubt this has its challenges and risks, but so far I am pleased with the progress!<br><br>Post edited by: dblhelix, at: 2007/08/15 04:20

[danmcq]

Thanks for re-posting your write up on this Mark!

 

Very good information and reasoning for allowing your Grey to become and remain flighted.

 

I am in the same boat you were. The Breeder would not release Dayo without a minor wing clip. The good news is that He was allowed to fully fledge before the Clip, so he still flies fairly well with out gaining much altitude.

 

I take exception to your "Evolving" flight abilities, since I am a firm believer in creation. But, we are on the same page in that, they were designed to Fly :-)

[devanz]

Hi chicken has been flying up on to the light on the ceiling and although ignoring him eventually works there is still the fact it would take 1 good bite and he would be dead,now once hes settled down hes normally good as gold as long as someone new doesnt come it the house,but anyway hes 9 monthes coming up for 10 would having his wings clipped for the first time be advisable or not,as

Monique states in her first post 'can you imagine being that bird going to fly and suddenly realizing your wings no longer work' i already had this as a concern we were told by the vet (luckily we have found a avian specialist in grays only!!! approx 12 miles away) that he was a good flied if that makes any difference,also if we were to have his wings clipped what effect would that have on his flight specifically

would he only be able to flutter to the ground and for example we would have to put him up on the shower rail because he loves it up there there is Cheers guys

[daviddogma]

My breeder wouldn't release Otis to me unless I promised never to clip his wings. I guess everyone has a take on this subject.

[danmcq]

David - Since your new CAG is flighted. What is your experience thus far with it and what is your take on the subject?