My grey has a tude now

[dm.bourgeois]

So my grey had been flying around the house and the wife didnt like that much. While my wife was gone Rose, who is 4 months old and I have had her for 3 weeks now, flies right into a wall and I hear a thud. I flipped out and thought she hurt herself. From what I can tell she is fine but at this point I decide it would be best to get her wings clipped. I bring right then and there to get her wings clipped. Needless to say it didnt seem like a pleasureable experience for Rose. Now ever since, this was yesterday by the way, she has had this attitude towards me. She doesnt want to step up, turned her beak up at the mashed sweet potatoes I made her tonight, and barely will tolerate me petting the back of her neck. Can anyone tell me what is going on here? What should I do? I feel horrible but I got her wings clipped for her safety and to please my wife. Thanks in advance.

[judygram]

Rose is a little pissed off at the moment as you took her flying ability away but she will get over it. I wish you hadn't clipped her wings as she was learning how to fly and that includes a few bumps along the way like flying into a wall but practice makes perfect and they have to learn how to fly to land properly but the damage is done now. Why not allow her wings to grow back out and leave them unclipped as a grey that is allowed flight when young is a more confident bird.

[Luvparrots]

Your grey is upset, she doesn't know what happened and why the wings were clipped. I'm sure it was a traumatic experience for her being held down and her wings being immobile for a period and then unable to fly afterwards. Much like your legs only allowing you to crawl not walk any longer. Hopefully she will forgive you over time. Please remember that she will probably continue to try and fly and crashes may not be eliminated just because the wings are clipped.

[dm.bourgeois]

Thanks for the input so far. I understand that not allowing my grey to fly all over my house might not be the best choice for my grey but its not like I have a big house to begin with. The wife doesnt like the bird flying all around and pooping on random things. I have to keep a precious balance between my marriage and my grey. As long as my grey will warm back up to me within a couple of days I guess I will be ok. Let me add that the breeder let her fly for a few weeks before I got her, was that not enough time to learn how to fly and land? Now, since the clipping, when she tries to fly she lands like she should, not with a huge thud. Ussually it is from the couch to her cage and she now doesnt make it to her cage so she lands on the floor and climbs up the cage and onto her play top. Is this not how a pet bird is supposed to be?

[bran]

hi dm. Personally i have my greys wings clipped, there are thousands of various opinions of whether you should or not. I don't like my birds flying all over my house, because we have two cats (who don't seem to really care about them) and a golden retriever (yes RETRIEVER, who also doesn't seem to care about the birds) but there is that possibility of "one"time and that's all it takes.

 

I have been working with my boys and them holding out their wing for trimming, and the woman that clips their wings is very gently, doesnt "strap" them to a board, and is a seasoned pro. She also makes sure their "landing gear" feathers are left in tact, so they can glide to the ground, and not belly flop.

 

Like I said earlier, there are thousands of opinions regarding wing clipping, it is a personal preference. Just make sure you go to someone who is humane, and doesn't butcher their feathers.

[dm.bourgeois]

Thanks Bran! The guy i brought Rose to has clipped tons of birds wings, he is a rather old man, he does have to hold them steady but I think it might be a shock factor of such a drastic clip as he gave her. She can still land pretty well but I think she is just upset she cant fly now. Maybe if I had a bigger house and I could have my own office I could put her in there and let her fly around but I dont think I will ever want her to fly around an entire house.

[ranaz]

Hi dm,

I do understand why your grey is upset or even shocked, but dont worry, her wings and her positive attitude will grow back. Personally I believe birds are meant to fly and I would not clip Kookie's wings. For a bird, this builds confidence as well as personality. Also the exercise is really healthy for them as much as it is for us.

I do understand the pooping everywhere problem, but you could perhaps consider potty training. I have done so with Kookie and it works around 95% of the time. He knows that his play tree is the pooping place and he doesnt poop elsewhere.

If your grey bumped into the wall, its because she hasnt mastered flying yet. It will take her a while to know where to stop and how to turn around and how to land properly. A few bumps are normal until she masters flying, but just watch out for open windows mainly.

Since your grey is still a baby, have you considered harness training. It can be a wonderful thing to have her harnessed and flying outdoors.

[dm.bourgeois]

I havent thought about harness training really as far as her flying around with harness. We have a harness with a small leash that she can be attached to me when we sit on the porch. We have A LOT of hawks in the area and dont know if it would be a good idea for her to flying around outside, what do you think? I need to read that post on potty training again as well because I think if we can master that it wouldnt be as bad with her not being clipped.