| To Clip or Not to Clip? That is the question. This simple | | | | bird fly on command. |
| question is often debated and probably one of the | | | | 3. Birds that learn how to fly, also called fledging, tend |
| topics that comes up most frequently on bird and | | | | to be better balanced pets in the long-run. |
| parrot related forums. Though some people feel very | | | | 4. It's unnatural to deny them the pleasure of flying and |
| strongly about trimming or clipping wings. The decision | | | | it's amazing to see them fly, hover and maneuver. |
| is ultimately a personal decision that each bird or parrot | | | | 5. A bad or botched wing clip can cause balance |
| owner must make. Some of the "reasons" detailed | | | | problems. |
| below may not make much (if any) sense but these | | | | 6. The owner is afraid to do it themselves. |
| are the most frequently given reasons given by those | | | | 7. A bad or botched wing clip can cause blood feather |
| that decide NOT to trim or clip their pet bird or parrot | | | | problems such as broken blood feathers if unprotected |
| wings. You'll also notice that some of these "reasons" | | | | by the full wings. |
| not to clip or trim wings aren't even true or logical but | | | | 8. The cost to go to vet to have the wings clipped is |
| they're still frequently given as "reasons" not to trim or | | | | too expensive. |
| clip wings. | | | | 9. To give the bird the ability to fly out of harms way |
| | | | (cats, dogs, etc) if necessary. |
| 1. It's not necessary because the bird lives in large | | | | 10. A bad or botched wing clip can cause or start |
| flighted aviary. | | | | destructive feather behavior. |
| 2. To be able to teach flight commands and have the | | | | |