Why is wing clipping so essential?
- KEEP THOSE WINGS CLIPPED!
Assuming your bird isn't a professional show bird, you should keep the wings clipped.
Wing clipping is NOT cruel at all, it's akin to a haircut in a human, and when it's done correctly the bird doesn't simply "fall like a feathered brick" when trying to fly; rather he can fly and get distance, he just can't gain height.
Many people who think wing clipping is "cruel", tend to wish they HAD clipped the bird's wings after their friend flies off.
Yes, I know, "my door is always closed" and "my windows are always closed"...but accidents happen, and most people who have a flighted bird say the above, and when their bird escapes...well...it only takes a second for your bird to fly out the door/window and be gone. They cannot live in the wild, they do not "learn from other birds", and will more than likely starve to death, be eaten by another animal, or freeze to death(if you're in a northern area). This is MUCH more cruel than clipping wing feathers.
So many people I've talked to that have lost a bird didn't keep that bird's wings clipped...and they were actually suprised that the bird escaped and flew away...every single person I've talked to who lost a bird due to not clipping its wings said they wished they'd done so.
It's better to have your bird "sulk" at you for a couple weeks after a clipping, than to have him escape and be gone forever. They get used to it, trust me.
Keeping their wings clipped also helps in taming, and with birds who have aggression or dominance problems. When they can't fly, they have to depend on you more, and it helps you keep your status as top bird of the flock.
- Do not allow yourself to get a false sense of security when it comes to a clipped bird. When spooked, scared, or with a good tail wind, they can still take flight and be gone in a matter of seconds. Cockatiels and budgies are very small, lightweight, and very strong fliers...with any of the situations listed above, they CAN fly away even if clipped.
If you take your bird outside, NEVER take him outside 'loose'; always have him either in a cage/carrier or on a harness/leash. Do NOT use leashes that attach to the leg, the bird can easily dislocate, sprain, or break something with those.
- Some birds don't do well with a traditional wing clip; the cut feather shafts can itch and irritate their skin and lead to things like feather chewing, and feather pulling. If they're irritated enough by it, it could cause them to pick at the skin as well. If your bird seems uncomfortable after wing clips, try the following clip method, or print it out and take it to your vet the next time you go in.
The following link will open in a new window.
Proper Wing Clipping @ exoticpetvet.net
I use this wing clip on my cockatiels, so I can allow them to keep their outermost flight feathers yet still be grounded. Unless they're stretching, they look as though they're unclipped. For those of you who like the look of an unclipped bird, try the clip mentioned above.
I also use this clip on my budgies, but I don't leave them any long primary flights.
- While wing clipping reduces risks associated with full flighted birds, it also creates another, unfortunately common, risk: Being stepped on.
Watch where you're walking when your bird is out. They move fast,even when walking, and it's very easy for one to wander under your foot or into your path if you're not paying attention. This is not to say that unclipped birds can't be stepped on, they can, they just have a better chance of being able to get out of the way since they can fly.
- But, isn't it unnatural to clip their wings?
How natural is it to keep a bird in a cage? In a house? In an aviary?
How natural is it to pull babies away from their parents to handfeed?
How natural is it to get them vet care?
How natural is it to feed them formulated diets(pellets)?
How natural is it for them to eat human foods?
How natural is it for them to have brightly colored wood/acrylic toys?
Not very natural at all! Budgies and cockatiels in the wild don't live in cages or enclosed areas, they don't have vets to go to when sick or injured, they care for their own young, eat what they can get, and generally have very short lives that end abruptly.
In being pets, they are removed from their natural environment, and need to be clipped for their own safety and well being in their unnatural environment.
For those who say wing clipping is "cruel", let me ask this:
Did you know cockatiels & budgies don't "learn from other birds"? and don't have homing instincts?
Did you know that in low temperatures, they're unlikely to survive even one night out in the cold?
Did you know that after 3-4 days, they can literally starve to death...and no, they don't learn from wild birds.
Did you know that they're EASY prey for hawks, eagles, kites, owls, cats, dogs, or any other predator?
Then, there's the chance that if the bird DOES survive long enough to be found by a human that he could end up with a human who neglects him, doesn't give him proper care, is mean to him, teases him, doesn't feed him properly, etc...?
Then there's the whole trauma the bird will go through in being seperated from his flock with no way to get back home.
They can fly for 20-30 miles, sometimes farther before stopping, so your chances of finding a flyaway alive are very slim. In fact, your chances of finding him at all are very slim. Those that are found alive are a very, VERY small minority. Basically, for every 10 birds that escape, sometimes not even one is ever found again.
THAT, IMO, is 200% more cruel than trimming wing feathers(which doesn't cause the bird ANY pain) could ever be.
Is full flight REALLY worth all the risks?
I don't believe it is.
Your bird can still fly somewhat when clipped properly, and can still get the same exercise using the same muscles as it can if it were fully flighted.
If you need more proof, go to any of the boards on my links page or contact page and just ask people to tell you about what happened when they took the 'wing clipping is cruel and unnatural' route...you'll notice that about 99% of them are now VERY pro-wing clipping and that many are also still looking for a lost baby.