five weeks, and so it goes

[birdies5]

Hello again. Not much has happened the past two weeks. I did buy a pair of gloves this week, so we will probably clip Chipper on Saturday. I am really nervous about it. All the messages about how cute and personable your babies are, and Chipper sits most of the time, unless we approach the cage and he does that pacing back and forth. Well, I guess it cannot make him any more reclusive than he is now, if he is bent out of shape because of grabbing him out of his comfort zone. I read the article about the two different types of wing clipping. Should I leave the two outter flight feathers? And then I thought after reading the messages about birds not knowing they can fly, what if he is like that? All the todo about nothing, but not wanting to take the chance of fighting him back into the cage or if he would hurt himself in a wild flight. Guess there is only ONE way to find out, eh? Donna

[berrynice]

I personally don't leave the outer 2 flight feathers 'cos from personal experience my birds have damaged them anyway. This whole thing can be so trying. I've tamed everything from budgies to large Oz cockatoos and by far my biggest challenge has been Coco my sons lutino irn. Just be patient, deal with the bites and don't let the bird know that you're upset. The other thing I find is try and leave training on a high note. Even if your irn has only stayed on your hand for 30secs, it's done what you want. Thats the time to let it go back to it's safety zone. Good luck. You'll be right.

[Mikaela]

I agree with Berrynice about the flight feathers.

Baby is now flighted (never has been and has no idea he can fly). I thought those two feathers were soooo beautiful but YEP... they dont care about those and beat them up badly.

Odd for a ringneck though, they are usually very well groomed... careful not to let their royal feathers touch anything.

I believe thats why most hate touch, to be honest with you.