Wing clipped Sun Conure ?

[Ayesha]

We got our Sun Conure, Artemis on Saturday the 9th. The place we got him from is a bird specialty store. They own the store and also breed in the store and take in rescues and buy birds from people who can no longer keep them.

Anyways we saw this Sun Conure and fell in love with him. We agreed to buy him. He was a surrender, age and sex unknown, but he had been handfed from what the previous owners told them. He is extremely tame and bonded with me right away, but he is super quiet, which I heard is odd for a Sun. Could it be because his wings got clipped?

The store did not give us a choice on the matter. We went to the back to get some food and when we came up to the front, they had already clipped his wings.

How long does it take for him to grow back his flight feathers? In the meantime, does anyone have advice on the best things to train a clipped bird that will help once he is able to fly? (does that make sense?)

We're working on getting his "step up" more polished.

We are still bird newbies, especially for Sun Conures and we want to do best by him.



Thank you.

[Wolf]

Having his wings clipped could easily make him be quieter than normal and will probably take about a year to reverse the damage.

[momal]

USA to EU is the only international flight I have heard of that may allow in-cabin, but I believe the airline that allowed that has changed it's protocol. Crate depends on airline and country requirements. Some airlines refused Suk because she is so small, increasing the risk of stress-related death, but as I said - she handled it better than the cat or dog.

[Pajarita]

It depends on how many feathers were clipped but, if the bird is kept at a solar schedule, it takes two full molts to regrow all the clipped remiges. In the meantime, you can teach him recall which will help a lot when he is fully flighted. And yes, some birds get terribly depressed and anxious when clipped. The only bird I've ever clipped (a very aggressive male Senegal) hid for three days and did not make a peep for a couple of weeks even though he is the most talkative and 'in your face' bird I have.

[demylenated]

My Sun was clipped and didn't seem to effect his behavior. It took him a year to regrow. I just clipped him and my Quaker, again, because we are going on a 1200 mile trip and moving into a new home. I didn't want any accidents. Once they regrow, I don't plan on clipping again.

[Wolf]

Bad move for your Quaker, they are illegal to possess in PA. They will confiscate and kill it if they find out about it.

[Pajarita]

Your sunnie is now only 1.5 years old so he was clipped when still a baby (not a good move I'm afraid) and the reason, most likely, why you did not see a drastic change in his behavior. But he also got a fungal infection, something caused by high stress (otherwise, they don't get them) and clipping stresses them out so I would not be too sure that it did not affect him at all.

[Ayesha]

Thanks guys. The wing clipping was not our choice as I said. I was just concerned and hoping to find out how long it would take before they grew out again. He is just now finishing a molt.


Thanks again.