To stop the birds from flying outside your home or getting lost or injured, keep the bird’s wings clipped, but before that, you have to talk to a veterinarian and get it done by a professional. This would ensure the bird lives an enriched and fulfilling life. Otherwise, a serious injury while trying to clip the wings can result in a fatal condition.
While clipping the wings one needs to recognize the correct feathers that have to be clipped. Along with that, precautions and safety measures need to be taken care of during the procedure.
There are benefits as well as risks of wing clipping in the birds, so you need to understand the species and individual needs before you proceed.
Start the Clipping Process
Here are the steps you need to follow:
Step 1: Talk to a Veterinary
A professional and experienced veterinarian can provide you with advice regarding the procedure. If it is your first time, then you can ask the vet to show you the right way for clipping. After the first procedure, the next time, you can clip the wings yourself. Never take any risk otherwise you might injure the pet.
Step 2: Select a Place to Perform the Clipping
While clipping the feathers you need a quiet room where the pet can also be at peace. Look for a space that is well-lit and can provide the pet comfort while the procedure is being conducted. Close all the doors and windows as there might be instances where the bird would try to fly away.
Step 3: Collect all the Materials Needed for the Procedure
You need to be prepared before you start with the clipping process. The procedure can be stressful for both the pet and the owner, so you need to plan accordingly. Get the materials: a thick plain white towel and small scissors.
Step 4: Pull Back the pet Bird
The bird might try to struggle while you are trying to clip the wing. So, wrap the bird in a white clean towel and it won’t be able to move while you are going through the clipping procedure. However, do not set any force on the chest of the bird otherwise it can struggle while breathing. You can also ask somebody to accompany you in the process so that one person can hold the birds while you continue with the procedure.
Step 5: Recognising the Feather
With one hand hold the bird’s body and with the other hand hold the head of the bird in between the middle of the thumb and the forefinger. This will also restrict the bird from biting you. Now, you have to clip the main features which are used for flying. Slowly lay the bird’s wings apart and try to recognize the primary feathers. They have two pairs of overlapping feathers on the wings and you need to clip the larger feathers. Do not cut the smaller ones which overlap the larger feathers. With patience clip the larger feathers, but do not cut them too short.
Step 6: Start Clipping the Wingtips
You have to slit in the feather present close to the tip of the bird’s wings. Directly trim one feather and cut the first main feather. Avoid cutting the short overlapping feathers. Be attentive and cut the same number of feathers from each wing. Now, the bird won’t be able to take a flight but can drift and sit on the perch.
Step 7: Provide Comfort
After the clipping is done, you have to make the bird feel comfortable, offer treats, and praise them, to relieve stress. To ensure the safety and well-being of the bird, you must consult with an experienced bird groomer. Clipping the wings would keep the birds safe from running into dangerous situations and also tame and train them.
Tips to Follow
- You need to educate yourself about the anatomy of the bird’s wings and learn the proper technique to carry out the procedure. You must also acknowledge the potential risk involved.
- Choose a perfect time to carry out the process, when the bird is calm and relaxed, usually after a meal or when it is sitting quietly. Do not clip the wings when the bird is ill, stressed, or molting.
- Never cut too close to the wings, rather trim the outermost 2 -3 feathers, at an angle and leave the remaining feathers.
- Be careful not to cut through any blood feather, otherwise it would cause extreme pain and blood loss.
- If bleeding occurs, apply styptic powder or cornstarch immediately to stop the bleeding, and also seek immediate veterinary support.
- Cutting the feathers without proper ideas can lead to injury, stress, and severe pain. It can also affect the ability of the bird to glide and land safely.
Alternative Ways to Restrict Bird’s Flight
By clipping the wings you are restricting the bird from flying away which can often have a negative impact on their mental and physical well-being. So, instead of wing clipping, you must try alternative methods.
- Training the bird to recall commands.
- Using flight suits or harnesses for outdoor activities.
- Provide a safe and hazard-free internal environment.
What are the Indoor Dangers Faced by a Flighted Bird?
A flighted bird usually moves around to explore the environment, which leads to certain indoor dangers. Here are common hazards that a bird might face:
Windows and Mirrors
The bird might fail to recognize the glass surface as a barrier and fly straight into it causing serious injury or even death. To prevent such hazards, you must use window coverings, screens, or decals that make the glass screen visible to the birds.
Ceiling Fans and Open Flames
Out of curiosity, a bird can run into the ceiling fan or open flames, such as stovetops. So, you must supervise the birds and keep an eye on them to keep them safe when the ceiling fan is in use and extinguish the flames when the bird is around.
Toxic Substance
A household can contain many toxic elements such as certain plants, cleaning products, pesticides, insecticides, or human food, such as chocolates which prove to be fatal when the birds ingest them. You need to keep these substances out of reach from the birds and also the environment around them should be free from toxins.
Smaller Objects
There can be many small objects lying here and there in the household, which can lead to choking hazards if the bird picks them up and swallows them. So, you need to keep buttons, jewelry, small pieces of toys, or any smaller objects out of reach from the birds, making it a hazard-free environment.
Teflon and Non-stick Coating
The fumes emitted after overheating non-stick or Teflon cookware have proven to be toxic for the birds, which can result in respiratory distress or even death. So, you must avoid such cookware and also set up proper ventilation while you are cooking.
What Should You Consider Before Clipping the Wings of the Birds?
To ensure that the bird is safe during the clipping process, there are certain factors you must consider.
- Based on the flying ability of the bird, you might not require clipping the wings if they are not strong fliers. Research well to understand the flight pattern.
- Inspect the living space and environment where the bird is housed, if it is large, and bird-safe, then wing-clipping won’t be necessary. However, if there are signs of indoor hazards, then wing clipping would be necessary.
- If the bird needs to participate in an activity that requires flying, then clipping won’t be a good option, as it would also affect the socialization behavior of the bird.
- If the bird has any health issue or physical limitation that affects their flying ability, then wing clipping won’t be necessary. Instead of wing clipping, you can also train the bird to follow your commands and restrict their flight.
How Often Should the Bird’s Wings Be Clipped?
Based on the growth rate of the feathers, the wings of the birds should be clipped. The wings usually molt or regrow twice a year and so after the molt, with the help of a bird groomer, the wings can be clipped.
Does Wing Clipping Hurt the Bird?
No, wing clipping does not hurt the bird when done correctly, as the procedure involves removing the outermost flight feathers, which do not supply blood and are also not sensitive.
How does Wing Clipping Affect the Bird’s Behavior?
After clipping the bird’s wings, it reduces their flying ability and also their urge to explore the surroundings. They become more dependent on the human caregivers.
Is Wing Clipping a Permanent Measure?
No, wing clipping is a temporary measure to restrict the flight of the bird and keep it safe. The clipped feathers would eventually regrow with time and the bird would regain its flying ability. However, if clipping is done repeatedly, it can affect the quality and strength of the bird’s feathers.
