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I clip my goffin's wings but very little--a modified clip. He is a strong flyer and I don't want him getting anywhere near the ceiling fan. A heavy clip and he drops like a rock and breaks feather. He has enough flight that he can fly from me to his cage. He has to have the ability to fly because I have dogs. I have to lock up one of the dogs in order to have the bird out because that dog is aggressive. I don't think clipping is "cruel." I had a cockatiel who flew behind a dresser and got stuck. Luckily I was right there to fish her out.
When I had birds with clippable wings, they were clipped. It made it easier for me to keep them under control and to keep things clean while still giving them what freedom I could.
I only have finches now. They do NOT get out of their cages. I had it suggested to me that I was cruel to keep them caged, but I'll be double-dog-d***ed if I'll have birds flying all over the house - and pooping wherever they feel like pooping. Some people have no common sense.
When I had cockatiels, I did let them out of their cages - with wings clipped - but I did not give them the run of the house.
My sister had parrots that she let loose all over the house. The place was filthy. If it had been her own place, that would have been one thing - but she was leaching off my dad and thus she was forcing him to live in the same filthy conditions. He had pneumonia 3 times in a year before I found out what was going on and forced her to take her filthy birds and move out. The carpet in her room crunched when you walked across it, from a combination of spilled seeds, hulls, and poop. My son asked me what it was that was crusted all over the walls - it was bird poop.
So yes, when I had cockatiels, I clipped my birds wings, and I didn't give them the run of the house. And I have no intention of letting the finches fly around pooping all over, either.
This thread is reminding me that my trio are overdue for their trim. I like to take just a little off the tips of the first 3-4 flight feathers; it's just enough to slow them down a bit, but they can still maneuver in the air pretty well and fly quite competently for short distances.
This thread is reminding me that my trio are overdue for their trim. I like to take just a little off the tips of the first 3-4 flight feathers; it's just enough to slow them down a bit, but they can still maneuver in the air pretty well and fly quite competently for short distances.
I think that is called a tuxedo cut. I always clipped my birds wings, and have clipped many wings myself as I hand reared and sold them in pet store. It may not be what they are bred to do, but then again, they were not created to live indoors with no means of providing for themselves. If they do get out, it is not very likely to be what their breeds natural environment is either so they will likely not survive due to food/temps/predators. That does not even tap the surface on indoor dangers.
We boarded pets at our store, and a customer who refused to clip her Cockatoos wings brought him in to board. Wouldn't you know that as she got out of the car his cage popped open and he flew to the top of a large tree and stayed there four hours.
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