What do you think of trimming wings?

Question

I totally support the idea because my budgies are tamer and I dont have to worry about them drowning in the toilet or crashing into a window and they get excercise by climbing and playing with toys, but what do you think, do you love the idea or do you think it's bad?P.S you dont cut off the WHOLE wing. Just the feathers that are essential for flight.

You dont cut blood feathers either(geese that would hurt)

Answer 1

My Mother's canary which i'm now keeping is 11yrs old and his wings has never been clipped.Of course he doesn't get out of his cage either.I guess it would make a difference if you elect to let your's out or not.

Answer 2

I have been an owner of several different breeds and I know it is supposedly safer for them and they won't fly out the door but to me a bird is suppose to fly. My Nanda use to fly and greet me and then he'd fly at everybody else to keep them away from me. My friends hatted it, but I loved it. My cockatiel got her wing caught in her cage and she had to have the wing amputated. She never got over the fact that she couldn't fly any more. She would go the highest places she could go and just jump. Now there is my Quaker and he doesn't know he is a bird. He flies when panicked. He's not very good and flies only in a circle, I encourage him though because that is what birds do, they fly.

Answer 3

Wing clipping would prevent a whole lot of "I opened the door and my bird flew away." Even the best trained and happiest bird can get curious and fly off. It's not different than putting a leash on your dog (except most dogs come home, while a vast majority of birds decide the open sky is pretty great).

Answer 4

yes knew about the blood feather but have never seen one. the reason i would cut the flight feathers is because especially if its tame and all it could fly and get away and then you'd lose it and its neithers fault its just something you'd ahve to live with and therefore if the feathers are cut you dont' have to worry if you paid alot there you go.

Answer 5

Considering the fact that pet birds are raised in an unrealistic environment with NO predators to worry about, they would not do well in the wild. Therefore - I believe in 'trimming' their flight feathers to limit their travel but not their ability to prevent hard falls.

Answer 6

I clip my budgie's wings. They still flutter and exercise them when they're out, and have a large cage with lots of toys to play in. I feel clipping wings is safer for them as it protects them from escaping outdoors and flying into thinks(like ceiling fans) that could injure them. Also, having their wings clipped makes training and handling them much easier. They seem perfectly happy and I'm for it. It's so simple to trim them I do it myself.

Answer 7

I only clipped the wings on my two cockatiels for the two years, until they calmed down and got use to being handled.

Answer 8

I am so for wingclipping.. How would you feel if they flew away?? They would'nt be able to take care of themselves if they got out.. Not to mention the expense my Eclectus cost me 1400.00 and my cockatoo was 1000.00 so for them to just fly away would be like throwing money away... It is protecting them...

Answer 9

I take my Parrots to there avian but heres a site might help you;
http://www.ehow.com/how_6487.0_trim-birds-wings.html
or
http://www.animalsheltering.org/resource_library/magazine_articles/jul_aug_2001/how_to_trim_bird_wing_feathers.html
or
http://birdmart.com/reference/wings.html

good luck