Dangers-- Clipped Vs Flighted (1,051 views)

[Casey]

People commonly believe a clipped bird is safer and that having a flighted bird means they will fly into a window.


While it is possible for a bird to fly into a window, its possible for clipped birds to do this either way.

A proper clip allows some flight still therefore if the bird panics, it can still collide with an object.



Dangers to a clipped bird:

Being stepped on. Not being able to fly, a bird may find itself on the floor, where it is in danger of being stepped on by unaware owners.

Inability to escape danger. A clip allows a bird some flight, but no speed or height. If i bird encounters danger, it may not be able to escape as easily as a flighted bird would.

Not as much control of flight. Say a clipped bird "flew" into the kitchen... it cannot turn as fast or quickly to avoid landing on something it shouldn't.

Escape risks. If a clipped bird escapes outside, it may not get as far as a flighted bird, but it is more vulnerable to predators.

Injury. Falls happen much more frequently with a clipped bird. They may fall and if they fall on a hard surface, it can result in a bruised keel bone or even a broken keel bone and broken legs.





Dangers to flighted birds:

Collisions. Flighted birds gain more speed and height and can possibly collide with a wall or window. Most birds learning how to fly or in a new home may collide with things but they eventually learn not to. A panicked bird will still have that dangerous chance of colliding, but a clipped bird can do the same.

Getting places they shouldn't. Flighted birds get farther and go places a clipped bird can't. If you have something unsafe for a bird, a flighted bird may be able to reach it. Careful planning must be taken to avoid this.

Escape. A flighted bird will go much farther faster than a clipped bird if it escapes outside.

Ceiling Fans. These should always be off when you have birds in the room, but a flighted bird is more likely to accidentally come in contact with one of these and a running fan can kill a bird.




No matter which way we look at it, both have their advantages and disadvantages, both have the same amount of dangers, just different dangers. We, as the birds owners, must make the decision that best suits our own situations. Not everyone finds it easy to live with a flighted bird and not everyone can live with a clipped bird. We must make each environment as safe as possible and learn to avoid dangers from both sides of the argument.

[marc]

Great thread!!

[injood]

awesome thread.


i read somewhere once that if a tiel wants to fly he will fly doesnt matter if hes clipped or not, i think its true cuz al pacino does that lol its not exactly flying but still lol

[cinnamonbits]

Haha, some tiels just have more muscle than others. I told my hubby not to bother clipping Fuzzy anymore, as it doesn't affect him. He can still get up to where he wants to go and still fly as high as he wants (he's on the lighter side so a clip doesn't bother him at all.) Hershey can fly as well clipped but because of her heavier weight its more of a workout for her so she does better clipped attitude wise.

Awesome thread!!

[marc]

I believe, Casey has a great ability to perform the analysis.
This is great thread because it doesn't say it's right or not to trim;
This thread compares the advantages and disadvantages and it brings the users to decide in function of the own enviroment;
I hate the people who states in absolute way :"it's wrong" or "it's right"; I deem every choice depends on the circumstances.
I like Casey's mind.

[injood]

I agree

[Casey]

i am more laid back on the subject. frankly, people on both sides care about the birds safety first, so that is common ground people dont often see it that way. its not always safe for people to have flighted parrots and not always safe to have clipped birds. i prefer my birds to be flighted, its easier on my lifestyle, but its not feasible in my situation.

i think everyone should make the choice they feel is best and not have anyone judge. its just as dangerous and safe on both sides, each has their own dangers.

[cinnamonbits]

I totally agree its a personal choice AFTER the bird has fledged. The biggest issue I see with clipping is that birds are clipped too early. Then, they don't know how to fly and trying to teach them when the wings grow back is a headache and a half. I've also seen it cause weight issues so I usually recommend allowing a baby to fledge, THEN clip it or not depending on your circumstances.

[marc]

Jun 17, 2012 21:08:26 GMT -8 cinnamonbits said:

I totally agree its a personal choice AFTER the bird has fledged. The biggest issue I see with clipping is that birds are clipped too early. Then, they don't know how to fly and trying to teach them when the wings grow back is a headache and a half. I've also seen it cause weight issues so I usually recommend allowing a baby to fledge, THEN clip it or not depending on your circumstances.

I know what you are saying; however I deem the ability to fly is written into DNA of the birds;
Thus I don't believe that a young clipped bird will take a lot of time to learn to fly when its flight feathers will be grown back,since it is a feature or primordial instinct that is impossible to delete;
In my opinion,the real trouble is to perform a wrong clip; that is the why I deem the trimming has to be done by an expert person;
A clip wrong can demage in irreversible way the ability to fly of the bird because the feathers might not grow properly anymore.

[Casey]

our concern is clipping before a baby learns to fly, as this can cause some problems in the long run thats what cinnamonbits means.

wrong clips are very damaging and thats why we have a sticky showing the proper way to clip wings