Wings of Love Bird Haven - Tropical Bird Rescue

Clipped wings. There are no other words that create so much controversy within the avian community as these two words... still, it's a question with which all bird owners need to wrestle. Each bird owner needs to come to terms with the answer that works best for the bird and the owner. For me, the benefits of clipped wings outweigh the possible deficiencies.

Clipped wings work to prevent escape. Countless tales have been told about escaped birds. However, clipped wings aren't a foolproof method of preventing escape. Most bird owners don't realize that a gust of wind can aid a totally clipped bird in flight. Ensuring that doors and windows are closed prior to removing a bird from its cage can prevent many escape disasters. It is ESSENTIAL that you always use either a carrier or leash of some sort when transporting bird outside--- even if it is only from house to car. It is also important to keep bird "contained" inside the car. Read Riley's Story for example of what might happen if you don't.

Clipped wings help create a happier bird. A bird with clipped wings knows its place in the flock. Having clipped wings makes it easier to tame a bird by preventing it from flying to escape the interaction. It also tends to make the bird more dependent on its human owners for locomotion, which also serves to keep the bird tame. For birds that become aggressive when placed higher than their owners, clipped wings also keeps these birds from attaining flight and that higher position. Along with positive guidance, clipped wings go far in aiding the human-bird relationship.

Clipped wings create a healthier bird. Fully flighted birds run the risk of injury. Our homes were not meant to be safe environments for flying creatures. Windows, mirrors, bookshelves, standing water, and other general household hazards can impair the health of a fully flighted bird. Crashes and escapes are probably the most common causes of loss of a pet bird with a full set of wings.

Not all pet birds, though, should have clipped wings. Finches, canaries, and birds kept in flights, need a full set of wings to move. In an aviary situation, where the bird is not a handtame pet, a full set of wings is essential. A flighted bird in such an environment can enjoy a more natural lifestyle than one that might be clipped. A flighted bird allows birds to quickly move from one area of the aviary to another, allowing timid birds to escape more aggressive ones.

There isn't a single answer to clipping wings. Hopefully, by looking at the bird and weighing the consequences, each bird owner can decide for him or herself.

Once you make a decision to keep your birds wings clipped--- be sure to have it done often enough that they don't grow back. For most birds you should do this "trim" every couple of months if not more often, depending on the bird.

Many bird owners prefer to learn to do this themselves as opposed to having to get the bird out that often and pay someone to do it. Please DON'T ATTEMPT THIS YOURSELF without having had someone more experienced such as a vet or vet assistant work with you the first few times. Once you have learned the basics with their assistance--- keep the chart below handy for future reference.

NEVER start trimming wings or nails without first getting the proper tools in place.

Clipping the wings is a painless process and, in fact, a temporary one because the flight feathers will grow back with each successive molt. The objective of wing-clipping is to limit a bird's ability to generate upward lift but retain the ability to glide downward to prevent injury from a fall.

To Clip or not to Clip???