To clip or not to clip?

[yoshi]

Ohhh my.

I'm in dire need of advice. I've got a 3 month old IRN. He has a small cage right now that he HATES being in. We're getting a large cage at the end of the month. But for now, we just let him out and he can fly around our apartment. It's not a HUGE deal, but it's a little rough having to search the windows and curtains for poop... Our landlords aren't really fans. But anyway. We have been talking about clipping his wings and now I'm a little nervous. Since he has been flying for like 2 weeks, will clipping his wings traumatize him? I know that he'll still be able to fly, just not fly UP... But his play place is on top of our cabinets... He has to fly up to get there...

And I read in a book that clipping a parrots wings takes away it's vary instinct... And I just don't want to... But I've also heard that clipping a bird's wings will make it more dependent on YOU... which would be wonderful. Because right now he'll let you hold him when HE wants you to hold him. I just don't know what to do. I want to do the right thing. He use to be so cuddly when he was a bappy! Anymore he doesn't even like being touched!!!

Is letting him fly making him wild?

ANY advice is greatly appreciated!!!!

[ringneck]

Hey Yoshi,

Good questions! Though it’s true clipping the wings will keep your Indain Ringneck grounded, it’s well worth it in my opinion. Ringnecks are not very cuddly parrots to begin with and having a ringneck that files will only help to reinforce this hardwired trait.

My tamest ringnecks become more independent the moment their wings are grow out. They simply feel the need to push the limits—it’s not bad—it just the way these parrots are. Also, clipping the wings has many benefits such as noting being able to escape or hit a window..the list could go on.

Many members here do have their parrots’ wings grown and are perfectly happy with their parrots that way.
You made two very great arguments in your post—I think you are the one who has to decide what’s going to work in your situation. Wonderful post !

Best wishes my friend ,

IMRAN-C

[yoshi]

Hey Yoshi,

Good questions! Though it’s true clipping the wings will keep your Indain Ringneck grounded, it’s well worth it in my opinion. Ringnecks are not very cuddly parrots to begin with and having a ringneck that files will only help to reinforce this hardwired trait.

My tamest ringnecks become more independent the moment their wings are grow out. They simply feel the need to push the limits—it’s not bad—it just the way these parrots are. Also, clipping the wings has many benefits such as noting being able to escape or hit a window..the list could go on.

Many members here do have their parrots’ wings grown and are perfectly happy with their parrots that way.
You made two very great arguments in your post—I think you are the one who has to decide what’s going to work in your situation. Wonderful post !

Best wishes my friend ,

IMRAN-C

Thank you so much for all the advice!

My husband and I are going to be talking and praying about this decision! I'm assuming we will clip his wings, but we will probably wait until Yoshi gets his new cage. When we get his cage we're also getting one of those little play stands. Right now I don't want to clip his wings and take away his ability to get to his play area.

Thanks again for all the advice and the speedy reply! I love this site and it has helped SO much!

It's not easy to get questions answered that are specific to IRNs... People like to assume they are like other parrots, but I disagree. And someone who raises Macaws can't very easily answer my questions!
Thanks!

-Jaime

[intog]

Not to highjack Yoshi's thread, but I've been wondering the same thing about the little girl I am bringing home soon. The breeder offers wing clipping, but I was thinking that I would bring her home and see how it goes. I've clipped wings before so that's not a problem. I'm just wondering if it was better to do it at the breeder's before she comes home? I would love to let her fly, but if she comes to a new environment, I know how freaked out flying birds are in a new place... it's not fun for them to crash into everything

One of things I think Yoshi was asking was... does it depress the birds if they can't fly? Do they lose their sense of freedom/pride? My conure is clipped as he was purchased at a pet store and he seems OK, but is way too dependent and is terrified of the floor. I have to transport him everywhere and if I leave the room and he sees me, he sits on his cage flapping his wings a million miles an hour.

[pinkdevil]

If you do not like the idea of making a bird totally flightless through clipping, then you could just clip a couple of flight feathers on each wing so the bird can still fly with extra effort and not gain too much height.
Depending on what result you are after and on the bird, you may only need to trim 2 feathers off each wing for example. Just start with clipping a couple of feathers and see how it goes. If you think you need to trim more, do one feather of each wing at a time.
By clipping just a few feathers, the bird still can fly but not as easily or effortlessly as unclipped.
With this method you still need to watch for open doors and windows etc.

Have you thought about toilet training your bird?
I have not done this with any of my birds yet but a lot of people have successfully done so.

It is natural for birds to be at the highest advantage point, they feel safer and have a great view on things. Most times in nature, birds are perched at the tops of trees.

An easy home made play stand from natural tree branches filled with toys and goodies to eat and chew, attached to a base stand might encourage him that it is more enticing closer to the ground than on a cabinet.

Good luck.