Eddie in to the vet tomorrow

[lemonypickett]

Well, I was going to have that traveling (to your home) vet come to the house and clip Eddie's wings as he is flying everywhere (even with a clip now), but she is booking February.

So, I called the vet I used to go to and they can see him tomorrow (had to finagle work arrangements) so that Eddie won't hit the window anymore (he must have done it 6 times now, luckily without injury, but I can't risk it again) The next earliest time is next Wednesday.

So, did I do the right thing? This vet I was told is fairly new to the practice, I know he is one of only 2 vets that will see birds in the office, the other one is not accepting new clients. I spoke on the phone today with the assistant. She said that she is going to be the one that holds the bird while the Dr. clips.

I had hoped to have him home for this, and feel bad traumatizing him, but it must be done. Although he does "step up" whenever asked, he flies off my shoulder and anywhere else for that matter too much. I am hoping this will make him want to hang out with me more.

So, any advice? The assistant I spoke to today was saying that the doctor will see how clipped he is now, and then will make a decision. She was saying that a clipped bird won't fly at all.

Will Eddie hate me after this? :very_sad:

PS - They are charging me $45.00 total for this service, is this too cheap and I should be weary?

[Sweetpeaches]

i don't think it's too cheap. i take my lovie to a local bird store and they clip wings and trim nails for $2.50. it's a very reputable place and they're wonderful with their birds. maybe cause it's a vet is why the price is so high.

peaches always is able to have a little lift after her wings have been trimmed. that's important so they don't fall to the floor, but can glide.

and her attitude and cuddliness is much nicer when her wings are clipped.

[thebubbleking]

and her attitude and cuddliness is much nicer when her wings are clipped.
__________________
And that goes double for hens! lol

[Flapjack]

I'd say that if they're giving your bird some sort of exam, this is a great deal!

If it's strictly a clip, it's kind of expensive.

[michael]

This vet I was told is fairly new to the practice, I know he is one of only 2 vets that will see birds in the office, the other one is not accepting new clients. I spoke on the phone today with the assistant. She said that she is going to be the one that holds the bird while the Dr. clips........I had hoped to have him home for this, and feel bad traumatizing him, but it must be done. Although he does "step up" whenever asked, he flies off my shoulder and anywhere else for that matter too much. I am hoping this will make him want to hang out with me more.
So, any advice? The assistant I spoke to today was saying that the doctor will see how clipped he is now, and then will make a decision. She was saying that a clipped bird won't fly at all.
Will Eddie hate me after this? :very_sad:
PS - They are charging me $45.00 total for this service, is this too cheap and I should be weary?

First off, not all vets are experienced in clipping wings or treating avian patients.
Second, A wing clip should limit flight gain and not result in "total" loss of flying ability. And, this should also be done to the owners satisfaction and not any veterinarian who feels a clipped bird shouldn't fly at all.
Third, 45 dollars sounds like a basic eyeball exam that includes the usual 10 dollar wing clip.

Will Eddie hate you? No, Eddie won't hate you, but you may feel a bit of guilt should you let these poeple have their way with him without your say in it..... I do feel its very important to avoid injuries if you feel he needs to be trimmed. You can also be assured more dependency and better attitude follow a "properly" done wing clip.

[lemonypickett]

Ok, thanks gang. I will articulate what I want well, and demand excellence!!!

As to the price, the assistant I spoke to on the phone did say that they would weigh him, and give me some tips as well. I am sure I know more from this site!! Good luck weighing him, he'll probably be freaking and jumping all around.

But, I am just happy to have him not flying room to room, and save him from the windows. Keeping him cage bound for an extra 3 weeks waiting for the in-home vet I just don't think is worth it.

Should I put some millet in his travel carrier, or what until he gets home?

[linda040899]

Hi Laura,
You have the right to hold Eddie if you want to do that and know how to do it so the vet can clip his wings properly. Keep in mind what you want and that's what you will be paying for. It's also you option to say no if you feel something will not be good for Eddie or question something you are not sure about.

The wing clip needs to be tailored to Eddie's flight ability. Start with 4 flights on each wing and see how he does with that. If it's not enough, try one more off each wing. You want to limit his flight ability, not eliminate it. Starting with 4 and trying things out before doing any more is the common sense thing to do.

You want the wing clip done with you present. No leave the room for this.

[lemonypickett]

Ok Linda, Will do.

It looks like Eddie has 4 or 5 flights clipped already. I think they stick out about 3/4" below the first row of upper feathers. He can fly about 50 feet now, and is even gaining height. I can feel him push off on my shoulder as he does this, and even that is feeling more powerful.

I don't want him completely hobbled. Oh, and I would not leave the room with my baby in it!!

[linda040899]

Oh, and I would not leave the room with my baby in it!!
Didn't mean it that way! Quite the opposite! You would stay in the room and the bird can be taken elsewhere.....

[Pips mom]

I had Pip clipped today----I won't clip unless I feel it is needed and over the past week or two Pip has just gotten aweful about going back in his cage-----kinda surprised me because he was always so good about it for a long time, but them wings grow and so does the attitude I guess!
I get Pip clipped at the pet store where he was bought by his previous owner-----they are really great there and his previous owner told me he had taken Pip there to be clipped and that they do a really good job and know what they are doing-----and they do. This is the second time I have taken him there and they also do his nails.
As far as the price goes, they only charge me five dollars, but a vet will usually charge you for an office visit. My vet charges for the office visit and for that year you can take your bird there for a wing clip and they just charge for the clip and not a visit, but the first time you have to pay for a visit.
As far as the bird hating you for it----nooo! I doubt it----not a lovie! I have seen a tiel get very upset about a wing clip, they are more sensitive about things like that---- I think overall, lovies tend to be stronger willed and if they want to fly, they will! and if they can't get as far----they make the best and just keep on trying! Pip doesn't even seem phased by it! and in one month he is flying back up onto the curtain rods! so it's really only a few weeks that it's harder for them to fly. He should still be able to fly, just will be much harder work for him! and he won't be able to gain much height. Pip can fly ok for short distances, but when he tries longer ones, he ends up on the floor!
I hate clipping him, and feel a little guilty for the first couple of weeks, then he gets used to it and new flight feathers start growing and the worst is over! I felt like I had to because it was that or end up keeping him in cage more because I can't wait til too close to the time I have to leave for work----can't be going into work late either because I can't get my bird back in his cage! Plus he was really acting up lately too and going places where he doesn't belong and constantly, to the point where I could not leave the room for anything when he was out, so it was getting bad. Make sure you watch him the first couple of days after the clip, he won't realize at first his limitations and may bang into things if he lands on the floor---- Pip did this once today, and I was worried he could hurt himself, but he's a pretty tough little bird and also a very skillful flyer and would never fly into anything ordinarily.
As far as traumatizing him by taking to the vet-----Pip seemed to enjoy the car ride! and he wasn't stressed out by going there at all. Also taking my tiels to the vet in the past has never seemed to stress them out either. I try to get them used to the carrier and take them out alot in the warmer weather in it, and they all are ok with going for the car ride! One of my tiels even gets all happy when we get to the vet and starts singing! funny birds!

[lemonypickett]

Oh good, thanks Pipsmom. You made me feel better.

Oh, and Linda... I was hoping to watch this wing clipping closely so I can do it myself next time, and save the $50 !! Ha ha, I won't let in on my plans to my vet.

[linda040899]

Once you see the vet clip Eddie's wings, it should be very easy for you to do it yourself. I'm sure the vet expects that to happen.

The thing you have to be careful about is that you check for blood feathers (new feathers coming in) and make sure you don't clip those. They have a blood supply and need to grow completely in before they are clipped. Other than that, just follow the same line as the clip your vet will do (if it's a good trim) and that's pretty much how to do it. You may need someone to hold Eddie while you clip his wings but that's about the scoop on how to do it.

[lemonypickett]

I expect the hardest part will be holding the little bugger.

4 hours and counting ........

[sphinxface]

Beezle has about 7 feathers clipped and he can bounce up a fairly nice distance but when he goes forward he does a gradual falling motion.