I have a Question

[Tycos_mom]

as you all know I have a new bird tomorrow I'm taking him to the vet. I'm debating weather I should get his wings clipped or not. I usually clipp a new birds wings when I first get them just to help them get settled in and to learn their place in the flock. I don't want anyone getting hurt because they fly to another birds cage or don't know whos playstand is whos and that kind of thing Its more or less a safty precation until they learn how everything works around here. Gizmo is cage bound and I'm a little worried that clipping his wings might make him lose any confidence he has gained. He is so close to stepping up onto my shoulder now and I don'want him to revert. now for my question. Do you think I should clip his wings or not. I would only get the first 3 or 4 flight feathers clipped and then after he molts he will never be clipped again but I do find it allot safer at first until they learn the way thing work around here that its safer for everyone if the new birds are clipped I just don't know to much about cage bound birds. Tyco was cage bound but I had no choice but to clip her she barbered all her feathers on her left wing and was very off balance because of it she would fall so hard on her Keel I thought for sure she was going to break it if I didn't do something to make her more balanced. and It didn't really affect her because she never fledged anyway so she didn't know how to fly. But with Gizmo its different and I'm not sure what to do.

[BMustee]

I would say clip. Most birds are more trainable when the "power of flight" is minimized. Plus the work I have done with cage bound birds is that once you get them out and away from the cage they are different birds and can be sweet as pie right off the bat...but if they know they can go right back to their cage or fly around like a wild banshee then your might have a monster on your hands. Plus like you said you prob. will never clip him again so it's not like it's going to be forever.

[Lyric]

I generally do not clip birds wings because I like them to have their freedom to fly, but in this case I agree with Berna. I think it would be better for Gizmo's safety and also probably aid you in the taming process if you were to get his wings clipped. He will come to rely on you for his transportation and it might deepen the bond between you as you are just starting out together. Plus, he won't be tempted to land on another bird's cage or playstand and risk getting a bite.

[Tycos_mom]

Thanks for your help in makeing this desision I don't clip my bird after the initial transision I also like to watch them fly you can just tell that when they fly they are at their very best and extreamly happy. Tyco is starting to learn to fly alittle now she's a very late bloomer as she was not permited to fledge and to see her fly even 10 ft is a joy for me as well as for her. I think that Fergie is a big influence on her Fergie is a Yellow crowned Amazon an a expert flyer.

[BMustee]

Elmo is flighted now and loves to fly around the room. I can tell he has a lot of fun when he is flying and getting a workout in as well.

 

I did clip him after he fledged and mastered flight so going back to flight was an easy one for him.<br><br>Post edited by: BMustee, at: 2008/11/05 00:43

[BaxtersMom]

Do you think he would fly right now? The reason I ask is that Baxter was cage bound too and his wings were not clipped. He didnt even know how to fly when I first got him. He wouldn't even attept to fly off his cage untill months later after we had been practicing flying/flapping. I think he has flown from the cage maybe 3 times now. He doesn't care to leave his cage really.

 

The first thing I thought I would do when I got Baxter was clip his wings cuz I was afraid he would fly off but it wasn't necessary in his case.

 

Does Gizmo know how to fly? You will make the right choice though.

[Tycos_mom]

I have no Idea if he can fly or not I can only assume that he can. Most birds do fledge before they are clipped with Tyco that was not the case and when he was clipped it was by someone that had no idea what they where doing so because of that he started barbering her left wing because of irratation from the bad clip. When I got her clipped it was to repair the damage that was caused. I have no idea why this was not done in the whole four years before I got her I guess some people just don't care. Anyway I think its a different story with Gizmo He had a owner that loved him so I would think that he can probubly fly. if he ever got up the nerve to leave his cage. When I had him out yesterday to go to the vet I did take him into another room away from his cage for awhile he was very nervous and would not leave my shoulder. He didn't fly but I think thats because he was to afraid to leave me as it was the first time away from his cage in a brand new enviroment.