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From: kdb@intercon.com (Kurt Baumann)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Clipping wings
Message-ID: <26B5FB2F.4A51@intercon.com>
Date: 31 Jul 90 21:42:07 GMT
References: <936.26b173bd@desire.wright.edu> <1990Jul30.174540.13335@dinorah.wustl.edu>
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Reply-To: kdb@intercon.com (Kurt Baumann)
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In article <1990Jul30.174540.13335@dinorah.wustl.edu>, mary@dinorah.wustl.edu
(Mary E. Leibach) writes:
> In article <936.26b173bd@desire.wright.edu>, sbishop@desire.wright.edu writes:
> > 
> > I was told that clipping just one wing is better than clipping both.  With both
> > wings clipped they can still glide but one wing throws them badly off balance
> > and they have more trouble flying.
> 
> It throws them so badly off balance that they can't control their
> flight.  Avian vets, particularly in Bird Talk, recommend clipping
> both wings evenly.  And don't clip them too short, or they will not be
> able to glide, and the feathers will not provide adequate support for
> new feathers, possibly resulting in broken blood feathers.  
> 

Yes, please clip them evenly and evenly on both wings.  The problem is to
clip them at just the right length, so that they don't get a bit too much
lift in that glide and have it turn into a flight.  One of my Cockatiels
(the first one we hatched) got out the other day and made it out the open
door into a tree (we were in the process of moving).  Had his feathers been
a bit shorter he would not have made it out the door.

> I've posted my reasons for detesting wing clips here before, so I will
> not bore the net repeating myself.  However, this weekend I had
> another occasion to be thankful Cally (the Precocious Cockatiel (tm))
> wasn't clipped.  She was climbing on her new play gym, misjudged a
> beak hold, and fell.  Her wings saved her from a nasty fall and
> potential injury.  
> 

I just hope that we never see a posting from you that says "Gee, Cally just
flew out the window..."  It would be nice not to clip their wings, but on
the other hand how many times do you really think about that door being open,
or someone walking in at an inopportune moment?  Just be forwarned people
that bird relies on you for its food and housing.  Allowing it to "escape"
outside is most likly fatal to the bird.

> If you HAVE to clip 'em, clip 'em right.  Otherwise, don't.  That's my
> advice.  (And get an avian vet to do it.  Anything less, and you might
> have as much cockatiel blood as I had to clean up.  I hope you never
> do!)
> 

Yes!  It also gives the vet a moment to take a look at the bird.  Sort of
a inpromptu vet check... :-)  But keep in mind you can learn how to clip
wings, it isn't any big secret.
--
Kurt Baumann