View Full Version : Wing clipping
Debby
02-26-2006, 12:07 PM
:budgie:
To clip or not to clip! I would enjoy some input please! I am somewhat hesitant at this point since Tiki has done so well & has gained trust with me. I am hesitant that the transport and the clipping would be upsetting and Tiki may lose trust in me. Should I wait until Tiki is a little older? Any opinions on clipping? Tiki appreciates the input!
I've never had my budgies wings clipped and whats the point in doing it? Don't the feathers just grow back or something?
Debby
02-26-2006, 12:22 PM
Yes Billy & Lily, that is what I have read! Tiki and I appreciate the comment!
Hmm I wouldn't clip them if I were you its just a waste of time. It isn't essential either. So I wouldn't bother.
Budgiekin
02-26-2006, 01:57 PM
Hi everyone. I just thought I would offer my thoughts on clipping:
With my budgies, I like to have their wings clipped for a few reasons. The first and foremost being their safety. Having their wings clipped keeps them from flying into windows (or out the front door) when they are out for playtime. Secondly, having their wings clipped helps with you being able to tame them. It is much easier to train them to "step-up" when they are clipped.
You might be saying that clipping their wings isn't natural or is cruel. It really isn't. It doesn't hurt them and it does help them bond to you better. So, in other words, clipping their wings doesn't traumatize them.
One last thing, when their wings are clipped, they can still fly a bit, which is actually quite important. (They just can't stay in the air for very long, nor can they fly all that high). You want this because if your little budgie was to fall from a perch or something else that is fairly high, you want them to be able to land safely. My vet has to clip more flight feathers on one of my budgies than the other because he happens to be a great flyer with only two long flight feathers!
Yes, you will have to clip them every few months (depending on how quickly your budgie grows the flight feathers back), and you do have to be careful not to clip any blood feathers, but for me, it is completely worthwhile to do it.
I hope this information helps give you a good perspective of the other side of this debate; that is, to clip your budgies' wings.
When i was taming Blinkie i clipped his wings, this made it easier for both him and me to adjust to having him around and it meant he couldn't get away as easily. A wing clip done properly shouldn't stop a budgie from flying but rather stop the budgie from being able to fly UP, they should still be able to fly across. You should always clip both wings, never one, and start with just a few of the outer flights, test to see how well your budgie can fly and if you want to take a couple more off then do that until you get the amount of flight you want. Never ever cut into the secondary flight feathers.
Shiney_things
03-28-2006, 01:30 PM
It is true that clipping ISNT essential but it is safe, and yes it does grow back but it is easily re-done. The bird can still fly, it just cant gain the height to fly his or her cute little self into danger AND it helps taming. All my birds are clipped for safety, i tame them unclipped and when i let them out i clip them. If done correctly, it will not hurt the bird at all. I shall post a picture (that is rather blurry) of sherbert flying, who is a clipped budgie.
Ok I can't wait to see it!
Who clips the wings? You or a vet, ect?
If I do, how?
If a vet does is it expensive?
How many times will it need doing in a year?
Sorry for asking so many questions!
~*Brittany*~
03-28-2006, 02:07 PM
Ok I can't wait to see it!
Who clips the wings? You or a vet, ect?
If I do, how?
If a vet does is it expensive?
How many times will it need doing in a year?
Sorry for asking so many questions!
In my case, amy, a lady that clips wings for a living did Bobby
There is a website on it... ill get you the link. But the safest way, is to have the vet/expierenced person show you like I did. She even let me clip the right one :)
It depends on your bird. Its like hair, the length of time between each haircut depends on the person.
N/P
*feels special for actually giving advice.*
...*knows budgiekin will probably do it better* :p
You'll probably have to clip 2 - 3 times a year. Depends on how often your budgie moults.
Hmm in that case I might clip their wings in the future, thanks for your help!
How much would it usually cost to have them clipped?
Budgiekin
03-31-2006, 06:53 PM
The cost of wing clips varies greatly, depending on who you get to do it. My vet does it for about $27 CDN ($23 US or 13 UK Pounds). If on the other hand you go to a pet shop, you may be able to get it done for between $5.00 and $10.00 CDN (which would be between about $4.00 and $8.00 US OR between 2.50 UK and 5.00 UK Pounds).
Hope this helps! :p
Oh! That's 'cheeper'(!) than I expected!
I certainly will then!
Crystal_Dawn
04-08-2006, 08:28 PM
I am very pro clipping as well! It worries me when people don't clip their birds, unless they are in a huge aviary and never come out of it, then its fine :)
Billy and Lily live in a cage and when they come out they are impossibe to catch! (That's why I'm getting them clipped.)
Mistyoriline
04-21-2006, 09:47 PM
good idea!clip it's safer
I find that clipping once is enough as your budgie then learns where windows and mirrors are without slamming into them. I prefer to leave Blinkie (and eventually Ozzie) fully flighted as there is nothing greater than watching a budgie enjoy flight. Blinkie has a ball zooming around the place. Also, we have two dogs who are extremely tolerant of Blinkie and Ozzie and who really don't pose a threat to either of them but i like the idea of my babies being able to fly away if the need arises. I also found a couple of nights ago that there are equal dangers in having a clipped budgie vs an unclipped budgie. I was walking around the house with Blinkie and Ozzie on my shoulder and i went through the kitchen to help mum with something, Blinkie zoomed over to sit on mums shoulder and Ozzie fluttered away....and crash landed right in the washing up water. It was lucky that the water had cooled a fair bit and i was there to scoop him out in a flash but clipping takes away control and the ability to escape these dangers.
Oh right, in that case I will only clip once, after they've bred.
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