Reasons not to clip?

[Calthesa]

Hi everyone,
So, we've got our hearts set on getting a red bellied parrot and have been asking around for a breeder willing to sell a flighted baby. Before anyone says anything, we did want to rescue a bird instead of buying one, but there is not a single red bellied parrot up for adoption within a reasonable (or even unreasonable) amount of driving time so it just isn't feasible.

Anyways, the breeder we've been thinking about getting our new baby from is reluctant to sell us a flighted bird, but seems willing. She seems to think that it's perfectly fine and safer to clip first, grow out later, so we want to convince her that not clipping even once is better for the bird (and the owner).

Can anyone give us some bullet points about the pros of leaving a bird flighted for life?
Thanks.

[Michael]

Find another breeder. That breeder seems incompetent and will screw up your baby (and quite likely clip it anyway). You need to find a breeder that knows how to raise flighted parrots. It's more than "just not clipping" to do it right. You shouldn't have to convince a breeder not to with bullet points, you should find another breeder cause this one will be experimenting on your baby at best!

And please please please don't give into getting one clipped for now. This hinders proper development and causes permanent mental retardation and potential feather damage. Just find a breeder that is experienced with raising flighted birds. If there is any convincing you might have to do, it will be that you are competent enough to take on a flighted baby. Check out my book and safety articles for some tips on that sort of stuff.

Edit: I can picture a novice breeder who has never not clipped a baby before just keeping yours in a cage all its life so that it couldn't have the chance to fly. A good breeder will allow the birds to fledge but not only that. He will let them fly for food and provide the right environment for them to learn to fly. Learning to fly also involves learning to crash. There's lots to it. So don't overlook the importance of a good breeder for all of this.

[Desire Mercy]

I was fortunate enough to find a breeder who was willing to accommodate my request to not clip their wings. Picking them up tomorrow!

As I see it, you wouldn't get a fish and then remove their fins. You wouldn't get a cat, then break their legs. It's completely defeating the purpose of getting a bird if you don't want them to fly. Get a hamster or a gerbil if you want a flightless dufus. (no offense to hamster or gerbil owners)

[Calthesa]

As much as I would love to find a breeder who only clips by request instead of the other way around, I really have not had much luck. Red bellies are not the most popular species out there and all the breeders I've contacted no longer breed them, don't respond, or clip. A couple of them have suggested they would maybe possibly be willing to not clip against their better judgment, but that's it.

Does anyone know any red belly breeders (in Florida or who ship) that sell flighted parrots? I have contacted people off birdbreeder.com, from parrot magazines, from craigslist even. I'm running out of options.

Thanks.

[Michael]

A couple of them have suggested they would maybe possibly be willing to not clip against their better judgment, but that's it.

Says a lot about their judgement doesn't it? You don't know how much else they'll screw up too.

[Calthesa]

Yeah, I know you're right. I guess we'll just have to keep looking. Thanks for talking us out of a horrible mistake!

[Michael]

BTW, do the community a favor and tell breeders that it doesn't work out with that you are "not purchasing from them because they are inexperienced and don't understand how imperative it is for birds to be able to fly during the critical development period." I think when breeders start hearing this more and more from people, they will have to either change their ways or go out of business.

I don't think it's necessarily a horrible mistake but it's far from ideal. If you're going through all the trouble and getting a baby bird that you intend to keep flighted, having it clipped the first year is the worst. This is the age it will fly and crash into things and not get terribly hurt, heal, and learn from it better than ever. That's what they're meant to do. When they learn to fly older it's much harder, more painful, and not always successful.