To clip, or not to clip?

[hannahbird]

Do you have your birds clipped or not? I read that a non-clipped bird is less apt to bite and is overall happier, is this true? And if your bird isn't clipped/is clipped, how do you like it?

Just wondering

[zazanomore]

All my birds are flighted.

I kept my budgies wings kept for the first 4-6 months, because I read that it would keep them tame. But, I found it unfair, so I let them grow their wings out. I saw a real different between the budgies when they were clipped and when their wings uncut. When fully flighted, they have been more confident in themselves. Before they were always on edge, probably because they knew they couldn't get away. Now, they have lost their fear. They are now more willing to come over to me. I have not had one bite since they've had their wings, the only bites I got were when they were clipped.

I think having your bird clipped is the owners personal choice. In some cases, it may be more dangerous for them to be flighted, while in others it makes more sense to let them have free flight.

[GlassOnion]

Flighted birds are 1000% happier imo. I lightly clipped mine recently due to large open windows, and now they're so depressed I regret it wholeheartedly. The only reason we clip them is because for our convenience, to make our lives easier. Yes it's harder to control flighted birds, but I now KNOW taking that away made a huge negative difference to them, so I don't think they need to sacrifice to make our lives easier.

Plus, watching a happy bird play and fly around is a very rewarding experience.

[hannahbird]

Plus, watching a happy bird play and fly around is a very rewarding experience.

I agree. And you can train your bird to come to you while its flying. Which would help if it got out of your reach. I think the only time I would clip a birds wings would be during the summer when I could take him/her outside, with a harness, just to be extra safe.

[MandyG]

I've had my Amazon clipped and flighted. He came to me with a severe clip and became flighted and aggressive towards my husband so I took the easy road out and clipped him again. I didn't realize how much happier he was flighted until after I clipped him again. Now he has been flighted for almost a year again and he's so much happier and healthier (he got a little pudgy while he was clipped). Now he'll fly around the room just for the heck of it, he really enjoys it. Also I don't have to worry about making sure he has fresh food and water on his play stand or worry about him being bored and wanting to go back to his cage because he is free to move between the two as he pleases. When he has lots of energy he'll fly 'laps' around the house and go repeatedly between his perch and cage and then settle on his play stand in the room we're in and preen contentedly.

There are certain precautions you have to take with a flighted bird. You have to be careful that the bird is put away before doors are opened and make sure any windows that are open have screens. Close toilet lids, don't turn on ceiling fans unless the bird is put away, and be careful of doors. Also be careful when cooking and put the bird away. It's easier when you live alone, but I live with my husband and he knows the ground rules and we've (almost) never had a problem. At first look it might seem like a lot of risk and a lot of precautions to take but believe me, it's not that hard and the benefits are more than worth it!

[Zanizaila]

I clipped my Meyers when she was about one year old (and I thirteen), since she had flown away.
Nowadays, I never understand people who have their birds outside, then it flies away and they immediately clip its wings, as if they're thinking "Oh, it could fly?"
But I did the exact same thing myself.

She was then clipped for about three-four years. It was just a convenience thing, I had never understood or been properly educated about how important flight is for parrots.
When I got my cockatoo in 2006 (I was fifteen), I thought right away that he will never be clipped. But when he was one year old, I had to since he had already ruined his flight feathers himself (we had had a tough time and he got depressed), and because they were so trashed I had to cut the ruined parts, because his wings tangled every time he stretched them.

After that, he couldn't fly for a few months, and got SO happy when he finally could do it again, even if it only were one foot from my arm to a chair or something. You could see the pride shining from him.

I've written articles on the subject in the later years and would never again clip a bird. They are after all BIRDS. My thoughts are that if you can't have a flying creature in your house, you should have a dog or something.

And you don't put your one year old child in a wheelchair for life if he stumbles and scrapes his knees when he tries to walk? Sure, the wheelchair will keep him safe from some things, but only expose him to other dangers. He might have some happiness without his legs, but it will never be the same thing as being able to run and jump all he wants.

[Michael]

The Joy of Owning Flighted Parrots
Realities of Training Fully Flighted Parrot

[entrancedbymyGCC]

This is a flight-oriented group in general. Our GCC is clipped, our Cape is growing out his flights and we are waiting to see how it works out. We let Scooter grow out and he was scaring me to death on a daily basis, so he's going to stay clipped. With Scotty we'll have to see how he deals with it and how well we can train him to recall.

IMO it really depends how much safety and how much freedom you can allow your bird in your home if clipped or unclipped. If you have a conducive house plan, can make necessary modifications, and can arrange to have the bird caged whenever you don't have control over the doors or other dangers, flight is an option. If not, you may find your bird to have more freedom to be out and about if he can't fly significant distances -- say into your kitchen during cooking or into your exercise equipment etc.

I think a clipped bird that can spend a lot of time out with the family is likely to be happier than one with flight feathers that can only be allowed out for a few minutes each day... where that sweet spot is is going to depend on the birds and owners in each individual case.

[dusty]

i have been debating whether to let the birds flight feathers grow in or clip them again...after reading your comments i have decided to give them full flight...and as michael suggested i have ordered harnesses...my flock thanks you all

dusty

[MandyG]

This is a flight-oriented group in general.

IMO it really depends how much safety and how much freedom you can allow your bird in your home if clipped or unclipped.

I can only speak for myself, but I'm pro-flight and pro-choice! I've had my Amazon clipped and not clipped. And if the same circumstances arose that led me to clip him last time happened again, I would clip him again. I know that flighted birds are the happiest and healthiest, and I know a lot of owners of clipped parrots give them everything they need to lead happy, healthy lives. The most important thing is the safety of the parrot. If you can give them everything but you can't safely let them fly, then give them everything you can to keep them healthy and keep them safe. If you can let them fly, that's great! But don't have a flighted parrot if you absolutely don't have a safe environment for them. The beautiful thing about clipping is that you can always let them fly once, say, your kids are grown and out of the house or you move to another house that has a safer layout. The most important thing is providing whatever you can to your parrot to make sure they're the happiest and healthiest they can be!

Note: clipping is temporary, but never make a rash decision to clip. A bird that has become accustomed to flying may injure itself severely if it tries to take off. It's not a decision to be taken lightly.