Do You Clip Your Bird's Wings?

[chrissycat21]

I was wondering if all of you birdie owners clip your birds wings. Even if you don't have a bird (like me), post your opinion!

I think I'd keep my bird's wings clipped until they trusted me completely and had gotten to know me. Then I would let their wings grow out, I don't think its good to keep a bird deprived from flight unless there was a danger of it getting out or something.

[Logan]

My Cockatiels' wings are clipped, only I don't do it. My vet does. But I do think they are much more controllable with clipped wings.

[popcornbird]

Yes I do, and I feel its very important for their safety. My birds ALWAYS do something stupid and come close to hurting themselves when I delay the wing clipping, so for their safety, and for my peace of mind, I keep them clipped.

Originally posted by chrissycat21

I don't think its good to keep a bird deprived from flight unless there was a danger of it getting out or something.

My birds fully trust me, but there is ALWAYS a danger of a pet bird getting out or crashing into windows and dying.......or flying into the kitchen and falling into a boiling pot. It happens too often, sadly. There are too many risks involved, and unless my birds were confined to a 100% bird safe room, I feel its absolutely necessary to clip their wings as a responsible pet owner. If my birds flew around the house, I would be getting a heart attack every time they took off. I don't feel they're deprived, as they don't show any interest in flying even when their wings are fully grown. They're scared of flying. Silly tiels.

I would NOT clip my birds' wings if I had dogs or cats in the house though. With other animals around, birds should be able to fly in case the other pets ever try to get their *paws* on them. In that case, its better to leave their wings unclipped.

[GoldenRetrLuver]

No, Piper's wings aren't clipped because we also have dogs and cats. If we didn't have other animals, they would be.

[ScantyNebula]

No for me .. They have to protect themselves from Toby and Lily =)

[CathyBogart]

I'm of the opinion that in most cases pet birds should have their wings clipped. Several of my regular customers volunteer for our local birdy rescue and they have told me that more han half of the small birds they get in are "oops" birds that just happened to get loose the ONE time someone didn't shut a door or something. I would be scared to leave a bird fully flighted.

This is the rescue BTW...I love browsing their site.

http://www.mickaboo.com/

[BitsyNaceyDog]

My cockatoos and Oscar's (indian ringneck) wings are clipped because they are wild fliers. I am afraid that they will fly into a mirror or something if I don't keep them clipped. I clip Oscars and Babys wings myself and I will clip Charmins myself too, but haven't had to yet (I've only had her 5 days). They only come out of their cage while in a bedroom with a closed door.

My Cockatiels and lovebirds wings are not clipped. They too only come out of their cage in a bedroom with a closed door, but because they are smaller birds I worry about them more with the cats and dogs. If one of the cats or dogs were to get in I want the birds to be able to get away.

Luckily I've never had any problems with any of the birds, weather their wings were clipped or not.

[chrissycat21]

Originally posted by popcornbird
Yes I do, and I feel its very important for their safety. My birds ALWAYS do something stupid and come close to hurting themselves when I delay the wing clipping, so for their safety, and for my peace of mind, I keep them clipped.



My birds fully trust me, but there is ALWAYS a danger of a pet bird getting out or crashing into windows and dying.......or flying into the kitchen and falling into a boiling pot. It happens too often, sadly. There are too many risks involved, and unless my birds were confined to a 100% bird safe room, I feel its absolutely necessary to clip their wings as a responsible pet owner. If my birds flew around the house, I would be getting a heart attack every time they took off. I don't feel they're deprived, as they don't show any interest in flying even when their wings are fully grown. They're scared of flying. Silly tiels.

I would NOT clip my birds' wings if I had dogs or cats in the house though. With other animals around, birds should be able to fly in case the other pets ever try to get their *paws* on them. In that case, its better to leave their wings unclipped.

Snowy is one of the reasons I wouldn't clip the bird's wings. But, if there was any risk of them getting out or flying into something, we would have them clipped. I guess it pretty much depends on the situation and where the birds are kept. When I do get a bird the number one thing would be that he is kept safe. If having my bird's wings un clipped was a problem to their saftey, I would have them clipped. Like I said, I'll have to see what the situation will be when I get a bird.

[K9soul]

I clipped Dawn's wings when she was a baby and new, when I was trying to teach her to trust me. At that point I kept the dogs (Willie and Cody, and later Tasha) closed in another room when I had her out. I now let them stay unclipped, but the only flying she really does is from her cage to my computer desk. I trust the dogs around her but still don't ever leave her out and unsupervised with them around. I'm glad I can have her out without shutting the dogs in because it means more quality time spent with all of them.

She almost always stays in my computer room with her cage and jungle gym, and she never ever leaves the room unless I take her out of it myself. That means I never take her out of the room when the oven is on or any ceiling fans are going etc.