clipping birds flight feathers

Re: clipping birds flight feathers

hayleyw — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 12:29:17 GMT

Thanks everyone for your replies. I've persuaded my cousin to at least hang fire and see if it's necessary before rushing to get his wings clipped. I don't see her spending a lot of time training him but oh well, I tried! lol. I have forwarded her all the info, risks and contact numbers, nothing more I can do!

Re: clipping birds flight feathers

Julie-Anne Wilson — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 07:50:37 GMT

I wouldn't do it unless absolutely necessary but a Vet I worked with used to do it and she said to never cut across the wing but to cut the feathers up the side of the stalk (I can't remember what it's called), that way you prevent bleeding. Also if you only cut a few then the wing still looks like a wing and you've not messed with the aesthetics of it.

Re: clipping birds flight feathers

hayleyw — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 20:50:03 GMT

[quote user="Susan Jackson"]

I've done it for chickens, my boss showed me and talked me through it. I didn't go through any veins nor was I supposed to. It's one wing for chickens but I think it's both on small birds (you'll have to ask someone who does know). I only cut the large flight feathers, you count the first 10 and thats all you cut. I used nail clippers as they were sharp and less likely to bend and splinter the shaft of each feather and cut them cleanly. The cut is about 1-2 inches depending on the size of the bird.

I would not advise anyone to just go in with a few pictures I think it's better shown by someone who does it regular. I didn't feel it did any harm to the bird. It was a bit like clipping nails or beak. I agree that I wouldn't want to do it for small birds as it does seem more cruel to have to clip both wings and them not be able to fly at all. Chickens are more ground birds so it wouldn't affect them so much.

I can't say I'm a big fan of keeping birds anyway. I don't like seeing them in cages unless they're lovely big outside aviary types.

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Yea, having heard more about it I definately won't be offering to help - sounds like too much can go wrong! But at least now I can hopefully advise her better and ideally stop her having its feathers clipped. Yea, I don't think it would affect chickens too much. I agree with what you said about keeping birds too, I am of the same opinion and think keeping a bird in a small cage and virtually removing their ability to fly is cruel.

Re: clipping birds flight feathers

hayleyw — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 20:43:07 GMT

[quote user="Carli Dodd"]

Clipping the wings of parrots is not something to be undertaken lightly.

You are effectively disabling the bird. The bird knows that it has lost it's means of escape and therefore it's natural 'response' (think fight vs flight here).

A relationship with parrots is built on trust. They respond well to training (even older birds) as they are intellegent creatures. This should be done with positive reinforcement. There are some good books / dvds out there Greg Glendell / Barbara Heidenreich which go through training exercises etc. Wing clipping is still carried out (in America it is done as routine) but we see an awful lot of problems associated with it, feather plucking, aggression etc.

Sorry for the soap box moment !! If you would like to pass on our details I will more than happily have a chat with your cousin about her cockateils and see if we can give her some useful tips/suggestions/training exercises etc - Avian Veterinary Services 01565 654131

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That's great! Thanks a lot. I will pass on your number to her.

Re: clipping birds flight feathers

Susan Jackson — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:02:34 GMT

I can't say I'm a big fan of keeping birds anyway. I don't like seeing them in cages unless they're lovely big outside aviary types.

Re: clipping birds flight feathers

Carli Dodd — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:01:19 GMT

Clipping the wings of parrots is not something to be undertaken lightly.

You are effectively disabling the bird. The bird knows that it has lost it's means of escape and therefore it's natural 'response' (think fight vs flight here).

Re: clipping birds flight feathers

hayleyw — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 17:02:45 GMT

I was suprised when I did a search that this topic has not come up on here before.. lets hope we both get the answers we need :)[quote user="Emma Kerry"]

No idea, but am interested to see the replies - I may need to do this with my duck as she is fluttering about but wouldn't last 5 minutes in an unsafe enviroment.

[/quote] I know (roughly) how to do it but not convinced it's necessary. Is there no other options for your duck? Like a high fence or something?

Re: clipping birds flight feathers

hayleyw — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 16:59:16 GMT

[quote user="kate forshaw"]

i work at a vets with an exotic specialist. Not been here very long but get the feeling its a bit like docking, its felt not truly neccessary. My boss certainly wont do it unless strictly needed. I do know that some people do it at home but i have been called oohs by people who have tried and got it horribly wrong. Some of the feathers have kinda like a vein in them so they can bleed well if you nick them. Also one was a cockatiel and they near enough amputated the poor sods wing, and these were people who have supposedly done it loads before. Look more into training, if ur bird is well trained then flying shouldnt really be an issue. Not sure where ur based but our vet David would prob be happy to advise on the training side 01305848820.

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Thanks for your advice. Yea I feel a bit like that about it, seems cruel as that's what feathers are there for. My cousin has had cockatiels since she was little but it's only now that she feels it is necessary to clip the feathers because their previous bird flew into things a lot and kept injuring itself, but they also said that one was older and untrainable though. Yea I had heard if you catch a growing feather it will bleed profusely. Training? Sorry, I don't know much about birds. I presume this one is young and untrained as she just got it. Based in the north east. Thanks for that number, I'll see what I get in ways of replies on here before I call.

Re: clipping birds flight feathers

jamie — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 16:12:38 GMT

Re: clipping birds flight feathers

Emma Purnell — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:22:59 GMT

No idea, but am interested to see the replies - I may need to do this with my duck as she is fluttering about but wouldn't last 5 minutes in an unsafe enviroment.