Wings clipped on birds?

Question

hi, ive recently bought two peach faces love birds and i was just wondering your thoughts on getting their wings clipped. ive heard people do it before and it sounds like an ok idea; if they get out they cant fly away. but will it affect them mentally or something? beacuse all of a sudden they cannot fly?

also, my birds are very active and like jumping from bar to bar-will this affect their ability? or make them unsteady?

also, if i do end up deciding to get them clipped, any ideas on how much it may cost? And if pet shops do it better/cheaper or are the expensive vets still the way to go??

thanks

Answer 1

Definately have someone show you how to do it the first time around such as a vet, or even someone who raises poultry. It's easy to do and really doesn't effect them at all once it's overwith.

Answer 2

Take your bird to an avian vet.  Wing trimming is not expensive.   Have the vet explain the process, so you can do it yourself.

Wing clipping is easy, once you know what you are doing.  I trim my birds, and have never had any problem.

The primary flight feathers are trimmed (not removed), leaving about 1/2 of the feather.

Use caution.  Clipping feathers comes with some risk.  

Accidental cutting of the wing (not feathers) can result in permanent disfigurement (pinioning).  

It is important that you avoid blood feathers.   When new feathers come in, they have blood in the main feather shaft.   As the feather matures, the blood recedes.  Blood feathers appear darker and have a waxy coating on the shaft.

Do not clip blood feathers.   Once clipped, they bleed profusely, and usually require the removal of the entire feather (not fun).

Always have stypic on hand to stop any bleeding.

This site gives a great picture by picture tutorial with a lovebird:

http://www.parrotparrot.com/lovebirds/wi...

Proper wing trimming should not prevent your bird from flying.  It should only prevent lift.  Clipped birds should be able to glide safely to the ground and fly a short distance.

Clipping too short will remove their ability to fly, and can result in injury if the bird plummets to the ground.

Clipping will calm down a flighty bird.   My most aggressive bird became sweet as pie when his wings were clipped and he needed to rely on me for transportation.

I don't keep my birds clipped all year.  After they molt, I leave them fully flighted for a couple of months so they can fly around.   By that point the feathers are mature - no more blood feathers.  

Best wishes to you!

Answer 3

Go to a bird vet, have him or her show you how to do it. It's pretty simple, really, you just don't want to cut the feathers too closely. It's something you would be able to do from then on.  Almost all my birds have been clipped from time to time, and none have had problems with mobility afterwards. One of the main benefits of clipping your bird is that it can make the pet more reliant on you.

Answer 4

wings clipping is a humane way to keep your pet safe!

i do my birds only is summer, as we have ceiling fans and i do not want them hurt.. the other good reason for it, is to stop the bird getting a fright and flying out the door when someone is coming or going.  In winter my birds have full flight, and they are no different (tame wise or mentally) with or without the ability to fly.

I would ask a vet to show you the proper way to do it, and then you can do it regularily yourself (twice a year is usual).

i don't know how much that will cost, but it will be a once only payment. and then you can do it yourself, and will know in the future for any other birds you own.

Answer 5

It's a very good idea to clip their wings. It makes them more reliant on you, and it makes it easier to catch them if they're out. But have somebody show you how to do it first.

Answer 6

This is my opinion i think clipping a birds wings is cruel and unatural you may argue that so is keeping them inside etc but at least they get to use muscles for flight making them much healthyer and happier you wouldnt cut your dogs legs off to stop him walking and being a pain would you its the same don't take a natural ability away from a bird! if you can not deal with a bird flying around get a cat or turtle anything just not a bird.

Answer 7

It's incredibly easy to do yourself, and loads cheaper than going to the vet. Here's a site that shows you how w/ photos. http://www.exoticpetvet.net/avian/clip.h... You can't hurt them, because it's not like clipping toenails where there's a blood part.

Answer 8

i have several birds at home and i keep there wings clipped and it doesn't affect them mentally at all...it not only makes it easier for you to catch them when there out but it will also keep them safer...this way they can't fly into walls or windows or those fly sticky things you hang up....lol i had a friend that let there budgie out to fly around and forgot about the fly strip hanging up and it got stuck in it...it wasn't a pretty sight and the bird almost died it got the glue in it's nose...so in my opinon it's better to clip there wings..i don't know how much it cost i have friends that are bird breeders that do mine.. but i don't imagine it's very much...good luck and have fun...

Answer 9

I'm repeating a few things, I know, but there are some contradictory answers, so I'm just putting in my vote.

-It does not affect them mentally or affect their balance.

-It makes them more dependant on you & you become the flock leader to them. This will give you a closer relationship with your bird.

-It keeps them safe from flying into walls or mirrors. Some people get upset & say that birds are meant to fly. Sure they are, they are also meant to be outside. Keeping a bird inside is not cruel if you feed it & are social with it, but keeping a bird in close quarters, equipped with wings built to carry them great distances, this is wrong.

- Have an avian vet show you how to clip their wings. You CAN accidentally clip a blood feather if you don't know what you are dooing & that is dangerous. You also need to know how to properly restrain the bird. A vet will show you how to keep them still with a paper towel or with a careful grip near their neck. NEVER clasp a bird's body around his/her chest. They have VERY delicate resperatory systems.

Answer 10

Although it's pretty easy to do, especially on lovebirds, you should have someone show you the first time.  There's a lot of info on the net also on how and exactly how much to clip.  Clipping doesn't hurt the bird in any way, it's actually safer for them so they don't fly into windows, ceiling fan, falling into boiling water or toilets.

Answer 11

It will not affect them mentally. They might just think, I cannot fly as well. They'll get used to it. Also when they get their wings clipped, they become more reliant on you so it is better if you want to train it or something. If they jump from bar to bar, it will not affect them. They're not using their wings at all, just their feet.

It is really easy to clip your budgies wing. You should take them to the vet and just have a look at how the vet does it. Then you can try and do it yourself. Just remember to not cut off too much.

Answer 12

I was uneasy at first as well!  I learned that it is just like clipping your nails, you do not feel a thing.  Pet shops would be less expensive (in my opinion).  I would only pay $5 until I clipped the wings myself.  If you choose to do it yourself, you cover your bird with a towel to prevent biting, and then clip the first 5 feathers on the wing.  I know it may be scarey but once you do it the first time it is a piece of cake and you do not have to pay to get it done!  The bird will forget about in no time flat!  It is actually better for the bird because it protects them from flying into things such as windows or escaping!

Answer 13

I guess it's a preference.  I don't clip anymore.  I have in the past.  You do have to know what you are doing to clip a birds wings.  If you cut what they call a blood feather that's not a good thing.  It's a feather that's still growing in and has a blood supply still.  If you cut one, you'll have to pluck it out to stop the bleeding.  I never felt comfortable enough to do it myself.  I always took it to my vet and let them do it.  It was always a very stressful experience getting the bird there and then they would towel the bird, or hold it firmly so it can't bite.  Every time I had mine done it was a two person job.  One holding the bird while one cut the wing feathers.  Like I said. I don't do that to the birds anymore.  Now if your bird gets into constant mischief when out of it's cage and you would feel better having it's wings clipped that's fine.  I have 2 parrots and in the past I've had their wings clipped.  But I stopped.  They didn't suffer mentally to my knowledge from having them cut.  They soon learned they couldn't fly anymore.  I just closely supervise while they are out of their cages.  It will not affect their jumping from perch to perch or their climbing ability either.  If they try to fly right after, before they realize they can't fly, they'll end up on the floor. They can crash land to though and break some tail feathers off.  That happened to my friends bird.  He always still tried to fly, never quite caught on he couldn't I guess.  Some people have had only one wing clipped, I always have had both done.  Clipping will teach a bird that doesn't know boundrys to kinda stay put.  But not always.  I guess it's a choice you can make.  But I would have a professional do the trimming.

Answer 14

You can actually make them bleed if you cut it to close. Take it to the vet and have them show you the first time..its worth the twenty bucks. Its very common of people to make there birds bleed.