Questions About Clipping

[tquack]

I'm getting my birds clipped for the first time on the 21st so;
How long does a bird stay clipped?
Does clipping make the bird unable to fly or unable to gain altitude while flying?
Does it hurt the birds physically/emotionaly? (if I could fly and then couldn't, I'd be sad.)

[carrier]

A good clip should only keep your bird from gaining altitude-the important thing is that they can land safely without crashing to the floor. :x

As long as only the outer flights and no blood feathers are cut, it will be a physically painless procedure. Emotionally, there will most likely be a change in attitude and they will be much more handleable for you.

Some people decide after a while that thier birds are tame enough that they don't need to be clipped. I suggest it for all new birds as it helps with training of step up and keeps them out of trouble, most importantly.

As far as how long it will last, it's not really set in stone. I had Fenway clipped and had to clip him again in two months due to a molt he went through. It's now been about 3 months and I can see some flights starting to peek out again. :rolleyes:

[michael]

Hi Tquack. :) My lovebird had been fully flighted for over a year before having his wings clipped. My reason was not for taming but for safety reasons as we were doing home repairs and escape was a possibilty. His flight speed became questionable too as flying around was becoming faster and more dangerous. I found it was easier to have someone help do it the first time even if you've done other birds. Lovies can get pretty wiggly sometimes being so small and energetic :D. Some poeple have no problem though clipping their birds without help... I like to think wing clips should be done by personal preference with some priorities in mind in the order of "safety first" followed by "taming", if its necessary.... I've since let my lovebird Goofy's wings grow back in and he no longer flys at supersonic speeds. At least not yet :).............Michael and Goofy lovebird

[Pips mom]

Pip had been clipped before we got him, but his wings were pretty much grown out when we first got him. I got him clipped about a month later to slow him down a bit and be able to get him back in his cage more easily. After his clip, he could still fly ok, but not gaining much height. It seemed he just had to work harder to fly with them clipped, so he just didn't try too much because it was hard work! In ONE month after his clip, he had one flight feather grown in on each wing, and off he went to the curtain tops again! Since then I haven't gotten him clipped again. He goes back in his cage fairly easy for us, so as long as I don't have that problem, then he can have his flight. I really don't like clipping unless I feel like it's necessary. Pip is pretty tame, but still doesn't like to be touched by hands. If I feel like he's getting out of control and can't get him back in his cage----then I will get him clipped again----it really grows out quite fast, and lovies, being so light, don't take too much growth to have them flying around high again in no time!

[Birdladyblue]

Hello I agree it is a personal preference. I have ten foot ceilings and it is very hard to jump on a ladder when ever I have to leave or someone strange comes over so I generally clip around every 6 weeks. But most important is watching to see how much lift in altitude the lovie gets. Sometimes it is sooner or longer between hair oops feather clips

[Sweetpeaches]

i keep peaches clipped. mostly for safety purposes. as there are alot of doors on my home and i'm afraid someone might forget and leave one open...it only takes a second. plus, i have found when her wings start growing out (which seems quicker as she gets older) she becomes more aggressive towards me.