Your views on clipping wings?

[BlondeCorinne]

I'm planning on getting a Senegal Parrot in the future and I'm wondering what other peoples views are about clipping their wings? The place I'm going to get my bird at, clips their wings. They grow back about every 7 weeks, will they be able to fly when they grow back?
*I'd prefer not clipping their wings because I believe birds are meant to fly, but if I don't have a choice, then I'll accept as well.

[pennyandrocky]

i'm against clipping. have you asked the place not to clip?

[Yarrow]

They really won't not clip a parrot for you? The fact that they clip at all makes me question them as a breeder. Just to warn you, it will take a lot longer than 7 weeks for the flight feathers to regrow. I think that it would be more in the region of a year, depending how severe the clip is and how many feathers need to fall out and be replaced. If they let the chicks fledge properly and get skilled at flying before they clip then they should be able to fly quite well again but if they're never allowed to learn at a young age then they can never become skilled flyers.

I only agree with clipping birds like chickens that naturally live on the ground most of the time anyway. It's cruel to clip flighted parrots and cancels out the point of buying a flying bird in the first place.

I'm glad that you're against clipping as well and if you haven't already, I would really try to convince the breeder to keep one flighted for you. You could link or quote stuff from these http://www.greg-parrots.co.uk/articles.php and http://theparrotuniversity.com/flight.php

[Michael]

Clipping can lead to permanent feather damage and/or mental retardation (particularly when done during the first year) so don't let anyone bullshit you that it's just a haircut and harmless. I know first hand from my Senegal that came clipped vs my Cape that never was.

[Pajarita]

7 weeks? LOL - more like two years because they molt only once a year and only half their plumage so it will take two years for your bird to be able to fly correctly and, by then, it will be too late, the tendons would have shrunk and the muscles would be VERY weak from not using them. A baby needs to fledge and learn how to master flight before you would even consider clipping them (not that I agree with clipping birds ever) otherwise you risk physical atrophy and mental issues when the bird is grown.

A breeder that only sells clipped babies is NOT a good breeder, please reconsider buying from this person.

[Eric&Rebecca]

It's the equivalent of knee capping a small child because they might hurt themselves if they learn to walk. I would never buy from a breeder performing a full clip although I don't tend to buy from breeders, I go to small hobbyist breeders who wish to decrease flock size or rehome new chicks to prevent close blood lines.

Additionally, it does not and will never make your parrot safer. Clipped birds can; still get away, still get hurt, still get lost, and no bird can 'fly into a window and break its neck"- more birds get hurt from falling keel bone first into the floor or being stepped or squashed because they are clipped than hurting themselves flying into windows. Babies in the wild fly into things and they voice pretty good!

[laducockatiel]

I think parrots were born to be parrots and fly so I'm against wing clipping. The parrot will be fearful of hights and it will increase risk of injury, cos the parrot might fall. It will also mean the bird is weak since it isn't able to get the exercise of daily flying. To be honest, I don't see the plus side of clipping wings. I understand that you feel the same way, and I suggest you don't purchase a bird from this breeder.

[truste]

My views are that in general, full flight allows birds a fuller life, and that I want any birds I have to be flighted.

HOWEVER, I absolutely understand that there are certain combinations of human needs/bird needs/living situations/etc where clipping is preferable and can be beneficial, and I dont believe that clipping on its own equates to irresponsibility.

Both my GCCs were clipped just after weaning. I don't know about senegals, but Roca (my older GCC) lost and regrew ALL of her flight feathers after one molt. She was clipped shortly after fledging but after they grew in she learned to fly quickly and is now an amazing flier with no lasting damage or adverse consequences from her clip. I think that Fizz, my younger one, had his first molt at the breeder's, who then reclipped him (we got him at 6 months), and we're eagerly waiting for his next molt so that he can get his flights too.

[marie83]

I don't believe that birds should ever be clipped, for many of the reasons listed above and more besides. That said I'm open minded to the fact there may be the odd very very rare circumstance where it is best for the bird, such as a medical condition perhaps, but I have yet to come across one example where it would be in the birds best interests.

[janetafloat]

Please don't take this the wrong way but I really suggest you learn a lot more about parrots before you consider taking one on. They're exotic pets that need quite specialised care and if you were prepared to believe that a bird's flight feathers grow in every 7 weeks your level of knowledge is not up to the job. And please don't clip, for the reasons already stated it's a bad idea. If the place you're considering getting the bird from is not willing to sell you an unclipped bird then don't get a bird from them - clipping a bird before it's learnt how to fly will have long term physical and emotional repercussions for that bird