To clip or not to clip is the single most debated question in the aviary world!
I presently have six companion birds and I clip all of their wings myself. I believe wings should be clipped for a bird's own safety and my opinion is based on my own personal experience and also as my experience as a vet tech and pet sitter. I have seen many birds accidently injured because of their ability to fly.
One of my favorite bird clients, a little blue parrotlet accidently escaped from his owner and she never found him again despite her best efforts. I had a love bird who was full flighted many years ago and sadly, I watched him fly off into the wild blue yonder one morning after a door was left ajar when he was out of his cage. I never saw him again and unfortunately, he probably met with some fatal dissater such as a becoming a cat snack.
Several years later, I found a fully flighted cockatiel sitting on the side of a busy highway. She had apparently escaped from her family. She was unharmed and a wonderful tame bird. I was never able to locate her rightful owner and she became my 15 year companion.
All it takes is just one second of inattention or forgetfullness and a bird can fly out the door or injure itself by landing on a hot stove or pot of boiling water, fly into a ceiling fan, or into an open toilet. Without constant supervision and a bird safe area, a full flighted bird is an accident waiting to happen.
As far as the wing clip, please take your bird to the vet and have it professionally done, at least the first time, and have him/her show you how it is correctly done. Too severe of a clip and the bird will fall like a rock. Too little and it can still fly away. After you see how it is done, it is very easy to do it yourself on a small bird like a lovebird.
And...remember this, even with clipped wings a bird is not fully grounded and all it takes is a gust of wind and your bird can fly away if you take it outside. They may not be able to achieve a high altitude, but could fly to a tree where you may not be able to reach it.
Someone also mentioned that fully flighted birds can also develope an "attitude". This is true! They can develope an attitude of superiority and begin to think their flying ability gives them the trump card and taming them can become more difficult. After all...why depend on you to carry them from room to room if all they have to do is flap their wings and fly!
2006-07-19 00:02:38
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answer #1
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answered by Free Bird 4
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Well, I have 4 lovebirds and we have always clipped their wings. It is much safer if you plan on handling them. Also, they will not be flying around running into walls and window panes either. Even tame lovebirds (we have 2 which are tame) have the natural instinct to fly when they have the space. By the way, my lovebirds don't act the least bit depressed about it. They don't really like the process which just takes a minute, but once it's done, it's done, no sadness, no tears and plenty of chatter as usual. You can clip at 6 weeks. If this is your first time to clip wings, be sure not to clip into the inner wing, clip on the outside of the little bones for the inner part of the wing. Some people leave the top 2 or 3 wings intact on each side so that the bird can fly a little, but not high or a great distance. This looks more natural. It will not hurt the bird though to clip all the way to the top of the wingspan, if you feel that there is a possibility of him getting outside.
2006-07-18 18:50:14
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answer #2
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answered by 2 shy 4
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Clipping Lovebird Wings
2016-12-12 03:28:41
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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Your bird is quite happy to fly around the room, clip it's wings and you will soon have a bird that is depressed which could lead to it feather plucking it' self , then you will have an unhappy bird. Do not clip it's wings birds were meant to fly and when doing this they are happy and content, not been able to fly is not natural to a Lovebird so let it keep it's wings. Avian Care Consultant and Lovebird breeder
2016-03-16 22:28:52
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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I work at a pet store and I think the wings should be clipped. Just make sure you have plenty of toys for your bird and rotate them so she doesn't get bored of them. Clip them soon, the longer you wait, the longer the vain becomes in the wing and the chances of cutting it go up.
By the way, love birds do NOT have to be sold in pairs! Don't listen to anyone who says otherwise. It is true that they like companionship, but will be perfecty happy alone if given personal attention and toys.
Clipping the wings is for the safety of the bird, it does not hurt them OR disfigure them, as they always grow back!
2006-07-19 02:00:26
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answer #5
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answered by pjrogers26 2
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Hey Jenny,
The real Q is, whats the chances of it gettin out? If it can get the chance to fly away, it will (theyre not very smart). I had a pair once and they would fly around my room (and chew on my posters, plants and anything that wasnt tied down). I didnt trim them because they couldnt go anywhere.
Now I have two parrots and they are both trimmed, Id be heart broken if they got scared while I was out with them and flew into a tree (or worse).
Just a couple of things to remember. If the bird is very young, you need to let it fledge (learn to fly) before trimming otherwise the muscles and muscle-memory doesnt develop and it will never be able to fly later. Second thing, you only trim the feathers- if you dont know how, get a good pet shop to do it for you. The feathers grow back in 0.5-1.5 yrs.
2006-07-18 18:45:29
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answer #6
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answered by seaspyder9 1
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I would clip them. Birds who are unclipped tend to get an attitude and often fly to where people can't reach them. If you'd like to reduce any trauma of trimming the wings and keeping a happy bird, I'd trim the wings gradually over several days or, at most, several weeks. You trim one or two feathers per clipping, until five out of the 10 flight feathers are gone. It's a gradual process and most birds don't seem to mind this method. I've included two sites under 'sources' to show you how to trim wings properly.
2006-07-18 18:43:51
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answer #7
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answered by white_ravens_white_crows 5
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I have love birds and I think that it is worse NOT to clip thier wings. We had one that fell into a boiling pot of water. Sometimes they can fly into ceiling fans, out the door, slammed into doors etc. I have worked at a pet store for four years and think that everyone should clip the birds wings of it is going to be out of the cage. Now makes sure someone who knows what they are doing is the one showing you. Age does not matter. It is like us cutting our hair. It does not hurt them. I do advise that you only cut one because it makes them grow out uneven preventing flying for a little bit longer period of time. If you trip both then they can sometimes still get up high. I hope this helps.
2006-07-18 18:47:02
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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I am sooo glad that you sense there is a "pro" and a "con" side of the issue. And it's your first bird! Impressive! What follows is an article that attempts to put both sides of the debate into a balanced perspective. Think about what the authors says, and do what is right for YOU and your BIRD. I am very happy for you and wish you BOTH much happiness.
“Feathers, Flight and Parrot Keeping”
Pamela Clark
http://www.indonesian-parrot-project.org/Library/pam2.html
2006-07-18 21:16:06
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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You have just bought a beautiful lovebird and you are now all set to disfigure it. Poor creature WHY? If you wanted a stuffed toy then you should have bought one. Instead you have chosen a living creature, the person who sold you the bird knows them best, and she has told you NOT to clip the wings. So you are wanting to go against her advice and cripple the poor bird? You are unreal! Also are lovebirds not supposed to be sold in pairs? I think this poor baby will be VERY depressed indeed.
Poor baby bird! Yes the baby bird WILL go into depression.
My advice, please do NOT clip the little creatures wings.
2006-07-19 00:39:18
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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