Do you think it's cruel to cip a bird's wings/?

Answer 1

I think it is cruel. I think it is unnecessary. I think most people only do it for their own benefit and there is no benefit to the bird.

People will tell you to do it as it stops the birds from crashing into walls. Birds were born to fly. A bird is not a stupid animal and they can see a wall in front of them. I have 3 birds at the moment and have had many before. Of the three I have now, one had his wings clipped. He can't fly properly, he crashes and gets tired easily. He generally doesn't fly all that often. when ever they all go out of their cage for a fly I have to go and him up and put him back on a perch as he has crashed and is too tired or shocked to fly back up.

The other two, who's wings have never been clipped, have never crashed into anything. They fly beautifully and very fast, in a rather small room. They can land perfectly on just about any surface. One wall of their room is covered in rocks, with a small ledge about 1 inch think at the top. They can land on that and not crash into the wall. They can fly through their cage door from the other side of the room. Not clipping their wings was the best thing I ever did. They get more exercise and are generally happier and healthier. Besides, seeing them fly around the room is an amazing experience :)

People will tell you it's to stop them flying into windows. Birds with their wings clipped will still fly when they are sacred, as they get a rush of adrenalin, and they will still fly into windows. Why don't you just get a thin lace curtain and cover the window? It will still allow you to see out and light to come in, but it will stop the birds thinking it's an escape exit. One of my birds actually ride the lace curtain, when i open the window and the wind blows through the fly screen. It's very cute!

People will also tell you it's to stop your bird from escaping. Once again, this is a reason which benefits the owner rather then the bird. Personally I believe keeping a little more careful watch and making sure all doors are closed when your birds are out is worth your birds being able to act in their natural way and fly around. Put a sign up or lock the door or both when our birds are out, if you're worried about someone walking in and then escaping. Even with wings clipped a bird wills till escape if a door is left open. If a bird is scared they can fly amazing distances. They would be out the door and off down the street before you can blink. people will also say it mean you can get them back more easily if the you have their wings clipped. This is not true, once a bird escapes there is very little chance of you getting them back. Wings clipped or not.

Having wings clipped can also be dangerous if you have other pets in the house as it means they have no way of escaping. It can also lead to smaller birds getting walked on or hurt by humans who don't see them.

Some will say clipping a birds wings will make it easier to tame, however having a birds wings clipped can actually lead to a more flighty and nervous bird as they know they have no way of escaping any danger. Once you have tamed a bird with it's wings not clipped it's a much more rewarding experience, as you know it is your friend because it wants to be and not because it feels it has to be in order to get around.

Have a read of this

http://www.featherforum.com/node/view/2408

It's a forum post from someone who decided not to continue clipping their birds wings. Also have a look at that site in geneal, and maybe ask a few questions there as they may be able to give you some advice or information.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Yes! It does have consequences that those who clip will not tell you about. A bird that is clipped will never get any good cardiovascular work out. No matter what you do. This alone is one good reason to leave a bird flighted. Most of the excuses you will be given are human biased, and most are not good reasons. As for saying a small bird cannot fly away! Think again. To say it stops them from flying into things, More bullshit. Most troubles with this sort of thing is because the bird was never allowed to gain flight control before it was clipped right at the start and may never develop the skills it needs to fly well and think on the wing, hence it keeps flying into things. There are so many cases of birds (clipped) dying from not being able to escape dogs and cats. Most keel bone damaged birds are clipped birds. Clipped birds are is danger of breaking unsupported flights coming in and have been known to die from bleeding out. As for them flying into glass windows! More bullshit. I have 7 birds at the moment flying around in an all glass conservatory. They are very much alive and do not fly into the glass.. If you do not want a flighted animal do not get a bird. It takes more effort to train a flighted bird but you will not have stressed it out. A bird will normally fly away from danger, it does not know to stand and fight. So how would you feel if you could not fly away?

Answer 3

There are different types of clipping. If you’re talking about the surgical procedure that physically removes part of the wing, then YES it is cruel. If you’re simply talking about the feathers, then no, it’s perfectly humane. The feathers will grow back with each molt.

Clipping a bird helps in a number of ways. For one, there is less risk of escape. If a companion bird escapes into the wild, odds are they will die. If they can’t fly well enough to escape, then you don’t have tow worry about this.

Clipping their wings can also help with training a bid and help their behavior. Since birds are intelligent creatures, once they realize they can’t fly, they will be more likely to trust you as their means of transportation. This means it is easier to get a bird to “step up” and become more comfortable around people in general... since they have no choice but to.

Clip only a few feathers evenly on each side however. If frightened, even a clipped bird will try to fly. If too many feathers are clipped then the bird will drop like a rock, potentially harming itself. If feathers are clipped unevenly, the bird could lose control on the way down and also end up hurting itself. Clipping only a few feathers evenly on each side allows it to retain control as it glides down to the ground, rather than crashing.

Answer 4

ok from what I have read in the birdtalk, clipping the wings can help the parrot or bird from one flying away and or getting into any thing dangerous. Like fans that we use in the summer that have no shield to cover the blades. Or in the kitchen where there is so many dangers for a bird. They can still glide along the floor. The only way that I wouldn't clip the wings is if I had a hudge cage to where they could fly safely with no worries of them getting hurt on any or by any thing

Answer 5

The only reason not to clip a bird's wings is if there are dogs/cats in the house that the bird cannot get away from if need be. Birds have 2 sets of feathers. The outer set is the one getting clipped and there is no harm done to the bird. I don't know how many people have told me afterward how they wished they had done this simple procedure when their bird escaped.

Answer 6

No its actually a good idea unless you want the bird to fly around and SLAM into a window. Or how about fly out the door.It has to be done about every 2-3 monthes. I have a Pet store and all birds have their wings trimed. They can still fly, but can't get any lift.I prefer to do it after I have seen them take a couple of flights.

Answer 7

no, as long as it's not wild bird. I clip my parakeets wings, so I can take them out and let them out. They like to play on the play ground for the birds. It'll be more cruel if you dont' clip their wings, because you wont' be able to take them out that much. So they're gonna have to stay in the cage for the whole time. caged birds. If its a wild birds, they should go back to the wild. I take my parakeets out everysingle day. I have play ground, with foods and everything. seems like they can't wait to get out every day. But I clip their wings, so they wont' fly away. Because one of my friend didnt' clip the wings, so when she opened the door, he flew away. He was raised as pet, and hand fed. So he wont' gonna be able to survive...

Answer 8

Depends on the bird.

I know that many people clip parrot's wing feathers, but I don't for my lovebird because he is tame enough for me to catch even with full flight feathers.

It depends on if you might lose the bird through an open window etc.

Answer 9

I have two lovebirds - one was clipped when I got it and it took several years to grow back. The other I have never had clipped - they are both flighted now. If you choose to leave your birds flighted, heed the warnings of the other posters - make sure they are familiar with their environment and don't fly into windows (cover them with curtains or shades).

Answer 10

Consider the alternative to this, if your pet bird got out it simply won't be able to survive, it has not skills against predators etc, and it won't know how to feed itself... So if it is a bird, no I don't think it cruel, but don't cut them too short, and surely you only have to clip one side of the bird?