clip or not to clip

[JuliesGonnaDance]

I was wondering if I should clip Spike's wings. :o
I know I said I wouldn't, just because I find it more rewarding taming a flighted bird. One of the things I've observed is most of the tiels on this and other forums are clipped. The reason I would clip is for training/taming. He's 10 years old and hasn't been let of his cage at his previous home at all. He's a great tiel but he will only sit on your hand for a little bit before flying away. Sometimes we have good days and he'll do really well, but thats usually only if you take him to an unfamiliar room and you have to keep him doing something all the time, like stepping up. If I clipped his wings I'd let them grow out once he has tamed down and he'd be happily flighted again. Another reason I might clip is because he is a bad flier, he sometimes misses his perch and falls behind it and I have to go rescue him. :p I just don't want him to hurt himself, but clipping would only help that temporarily. Now the reason I don't want to clip is because I don't want a relationship based by force. I don't want to "force" him to be with me by clipping wings. Of course I would do light clip so he'd be able to "glide" away. Just wondering do you feel any of your clipped birds feel forced to be with you?
I'm just hoping for some advice, I'm not asking you to chose for me, just give me your opinion. Or the negative/positive aspects of each one.

Thanks in advance for help.

:D

[bs007]

I heard clipping would be a big help in taming them. I'm pretty new to everything else tiel related, but I've heard that quite a few times. :S

[BUUZBEE]

I dont know much about tiels, but his age would concern me. Do you think it might stress him out? Its a hard call, he's never really know what flying meant, and now he does. lets see what others say.

[Bea]

I agree that's it's a tough situation. Having been flighted for as long as he has been it might upset him too much to be clipped. Maybe a light clip, 3-4 flights, would work?

[alicia]

well i cliped both my birds wings till they dident go away from me as much same with melody, and shes getting nice to me but once you gain trust and trust they gain of you then i let them have that privalige

[JuliesGonnaDance]

I just don't know, I really don't want to stress him out, I want to do whats best for us. I just don't know what that is. :(
I could try a light clip, but I don't want a depressed tiel on my hands.

[A-n-M]

I would clip Spike, I went through the same thing with Emerson. Sometimes he just wouldn't stay on my hand and was a little bad at flying. I soon found when I clipped emerson that he was more and more confident with going on things and exploring, I was glad with the outcome. I do feel that it is somewhat of forcing them to be with you, but if its for training purposes and or safety its a whole different thing. He will soon grow out his feathers later on.

[BUUZBEE]

I would think he would be fine, since he wasnt able to fly for so long. That would be my only concern. but i've never had a tiel to know how easily they stress.

[JuliesGonnaDance]

I'm not thinking he stresses too easily because he was sitting in a 12x12 cage hung from the ceiling for most of his life, with no behavioral problems. He seems like a pretty happy go lucky bird. :p
I'll wait for a few more opinions before I make my decision.
Thanks to everyone who has replied so far. :D

[Babyluv12]

In my opinion clipping him at least for now would be the best choice for him and you. It gives you the chance to bond with him and tame him to the point where you are both comfortable. I did the same for Baby although I choose to leave her clipped since I take her out alot and tiels get scared easy no matter how tame they are...I'd rather have her curl up under my chin then fly away.... But anyways- I would clip him until he is atleast tame to the level you want. After than you can have the option to either leave him as is (if you and him go places...etc) or let them grow back out. Then you will have a flighted tiel that will come to you! XOXO_ Best of luck and let me know if you have anymore questions! I LOVE TIELS! And budgies of course!

[JuliesGonnaDance]

Thanks for the opinion, babyluv.
I think I might go with clipping, not totally sure yet though. I want to think this through and make sure I wont regret clipping. :)

[alicia]

I just don't know, I really don't want to stress him out, I want to do whats best for us. I just don't know what that is. :(
I could try a light clip, but I don't want a depressed tiel on my hands.

it dosent realy stress them out,lol they just dont know why they dont fly but they do forget later

[Babyluv12]

Alicia is right in a way- if the initial process is done stress free after that they get pre occupied with you and spending time...I'm not suggesting keeping them clipped but just for training purposes.

PS_ My budgie's primary flights grow back every two-three weeks- not long at all- If you ever change ur mind just let them grow back!

Best wished with whatever you decide! :)

[softie]

Hehe the same thing I'm going through :)

I know what you mean about regretting the clip, that's how I feel also. I clipped Shiloh and Grace when they came home since I had no idea how to handle a flying budgie. Worst mistake of my life. :(

I have cut a tiny blood feather before, I will admit, and I wasn't sure if Grace will make it through the night. It was truly a miracle that he did since he has lost so much blood. Then, as his new flight feathers were growing out, he was breaking them one by one, and each one of them bled.

I don't want to go through this experience ever again and that's why it's very hard for me to decide if I should or should not clip Dallas.

I want to so that I can become closer to her, but I don't want to because I'm afraid of the bleeding situation, if it may happen.

:S

[JuliesGonnaDance]

I'm not too worried about the bleeding situation as I am about him getting stressed.
I've helped people clip wings before with not problems, and I'm pretty good about identifying blood feathers and knowing which ones not to clip. If a broken blood feather were to happen I have flour in my room to quickly stop the bleeding and a good avian vet to get him too. :)