Wingclipping - Good or bad?

Question

I have a lovely parakeet and a friend advised that I have his wings clipped. I'm unsure and would appreciate the views of others to help me decide what to do, thanks.

Answer 1

Unless you have birds in a flight cage, or aviary, I feel it's a good idea to keep the bird's wings clipped. It's not cruel and doesn't hurt them at all. The feathers do grow back, so you will have to do it more than once, obviously. It's much safer for pet bird's that are kept indoors to be clipped. Birds that can fly around the house can get into all kinds of trouble. Flying into a fan, window, boiling pot of water, or even just onto a hot stove can be deadly.
Do not, however, clip your own bird's wings unless you know what you are doing. I know a visit to the vet cost's more than your little parakeet, but it's well worth it to take the bird in to the vet and have your vet show you how to clip the bird's wings. Only the primary flight feathers should be clipped, never the coverts. The primaries are the longer 10 wing feathers from the tip of the bird's wing in. The coverts are the small feathers that overlap those on the top of the wing. The secondary flights are the rest of the wing feathers between the primaries and the bird's body. You also need to be very careful not to cut a "bloodfeather". A bloodfeather being cut can act as a syphon causing your bird to bleed. Bird blood does not clot quickly as humans does, which could cause your bird to bleed to death. Also, the smaller the bird, the faster the heart will pump blood out. Flour can be used as a clotting agent as well as styptic agents, but flour is the safest. Alsways air on the side of caution and let someone that knows what they are doing either clip wings for you or show you the proper way to do it.

Answer 2

Hi you dont say why your friend said you should clip the wings of your beautiful parakeet? If he is in a cage in your home a little exercise can't help if the bird is out side what more natural than to fly!!!! The reason for wing clipping is to stop him flying. I am not against wing clipping but I have seen some terrible methods used.... you can take a wing in your hand and extend it and cut the feather on either side of the quill do not cut the quill it will bleed, when you release the feather to your birds body it will not be at all noticeable, I hope this helps I adore birds I have a stand trained blue and gold macaw just a baby he is 14.

Answer 3

The first time your pet bird lands on the stove, or the open oven door, or flies into a ceiling fan, or straight into a window (not realizing it is glass), you will know if clipping is needed.

If your pet bird flies out the door, it isn't "escaping"; it is just flying farther than it has ever been in 30 seconds and can get lost. Sometimes you can find the bird and they are so scared they won't fly down from the perch in the tree. Try and climb the tree and the limb shakes more than any perch ever has before, and it panic-flies away. Soon, your approach will cause panic. Awful situation to be in.

If you don't want to wait until then, learn how to clip from an avian vet. During one of the routine trips to the vet, just ask how to do it and be there when s/he does it. As somebody else pointed out, just get the flight feathers. But be aware that small birds can fly with minimal feathers. Clipping will just discourage them.

Clipping also helps with discipline problems like a strafing "poop and fly" kind of thing...

Good luck!

Answer 4

Hi my parakeets wings are clipped too. I think it is better because it cuts down the list of hazards in your house by ALOT =] and this doesn't seem to bother my bird and when it is done itdoesn't hurt her also it is easier to train your parakeet when the wings are clipped. Even with clipped wings your bird will still be able to flutter around and stuff so its not like she can't totally fly anymore so it doesnt seem to bother them. The first time you clip them though I advise that you watch a veterinarian or someone who knows how to do it do it for you for the first time. Then you can learn the proper way to do it =] clipping wings in a wrong way can result in serious injury. I hope this helps!

Answer 5

From the owner of 8 parrots... Wing Clipping is used to impede or prevent the flight of birds of a wide variety ranging from species as small as your parakeet to wood ducks and geese. It is stressful to the bird when it is done. Only trim the flight feathers. They will grow back in time. Besides flight, bird wings are used for balance and climbing so be careful how the clipping is done. Some people clip only one wing and that is cruel, and promotes irregular muscle development.

Answer 6

I personally don't have my birds wings clipped. I have perches in the house that I allow them time to stretch their wings and fly around.

Quite a bit depends on surroundings in your house, other pets, etc.,

A friend once had a parakeet that flew around the house all the time. They had a boiling pot of water on the stove and out of all the places to land, it landed their.

So for safety, it really is a good plan.

Answer 7

Yes you really should clip their wings, I've lost to many to ceiling fans, water to deep for them to get out of etc. I have a large Amazon whose wings I don't clip because she stays on her perch and never flies unless someone is messing with her and then she flies to me. Clipping thier wings also makes taming easier they can still fly a little just not as high or far.

Answer 8

wing clipping is a good idea! it will keep them from flying into walls, flying out an open door or flying into a window. you can clip the first seven primary feathers on one wing if you don't want them to fly at all or first five on both wings if you want to limit their flight. if you have never clipped a bird's wing before you need to have your local pet shop do it for you. have them show you so you can do it yourself next time (it's not hard to do). it will have to be done after each molting.

Answer 9

I advocate clipping all pet birds that are in your house free. the first time that someone leaves a window or door open and your bird escapes you will wish it had been clipped. I own a pet store in Liverpool and I breed, hand rear and sell all sorts of birds. All the birds I sell as pets I try to get the customers to let me clip their wings before they go and I offer this as a free service to all my customers. I also do it free for people who have not bought their bird from me. I do not advocate it for birds in aviaries as they need to fly about for thier food and nesting. Please do not try to clip a bird if you do not know what to do contact an expert to get it done.

Answer 10

well. my opinion is that you shouldnt get its winged clipped. Birds like it best when they can fly. IF it is a tamed parraket then i advise you to not clip its wings.. but on the other hand, if your parakeet isnt a tamed bird then it may be good to clip it untill you are able to tame it.. dont worry their feathers will grow back!