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| Budgie wing clipping |
Hello and welcome to our budgie wing clipping page!
To Clip Or Not To Clip, That Is The Question.
The subject of wing clipping is a much debated topic amongst bird lovers, with those
for clipping and those against being equally passionate about the issue. Therefore,
I think it best to simply present the facts on the matter, so you can decide for yourself the
best course of action for you, your budgie and your surroundings. In theis article you will
find out the pro’s and cons of clipping and not clipping, why some people choose to clip and
others don’t, how a wing clip is done properly and the affects on your bird.
Wing Clipping Pro’s;
Firstly, DO have a vet or other experienced professional do the first clip for you,
so you can learn how to do it properly. You must know which feathers to clip, and which to
leave alone, because clipping a blood feather can be fatal, so great care must be taken.
. Your bird escaping or being injured is much reduced if it has been clipped.
· Clipped budgies (particularly older birds) can be easier to tame.
. The reduction in safety hazards as well as the easier taming process may result
in your bird’s willingness to come out of his cage increasing.
If you do decide to have your budgies wings clipped you will soon discover that they
do not suddenly become totally flightless. This is a good thing, if they did lose all flight
ability they would drop like stones and possibly hurt themselves.
The clipping simply restricts the distance they can fly. They will still be able (like
unclipped birds) to play, hop and fly short distances from one perch to the next,
and climb just as nimbly as they could before.
It is much easier to make friends and gain your birds trust using one to one
techniques with him out of his cage if he is clipped. Speak to your bird in soft,
calming tones, whilst approaching slowly and it will soon learn that you don’t mean any
harm and are not something that needs to be feared. Also, the fact that flight has been
restricted means you won’t spend so much time chasing him around trying to get hold of him,
which in itself will stress the poor little fella out, thus allowing more time for the pair
of you to sit, relax and get to know one another.
Clipping the wings is a good ‘tool’ when it comes to helping you with any behaviour
problems you may have. It is not a solution, but working with your budgie will be easier,
so a resolution to any issues should come quicker. As ever, when working with any animal,
patience is the key.
When done properly, wing clips are not painful in any way, and your bird will not
resent you for it. The clipping is also not permanent, when the next moult happens the
feathers will grow back, giving you the option to change your mind and allow full flight
capabilities again if you so choose.
The Right Way To Clip;
Consult a professional first. Have them do the first clipping and show you how to
do it correctly so that you know what to do. This will minimise any stress for the bird
and give you confidence (when you do it) that you are not going to harm your pet.
Incorrectly clipped wings can cause damage to our budgie (both physically and psychologically),
and render it permanently flightless. The feathers that require trimming are called primaries
(they are the long ones). Secondary feathers should never be trimmed.
The feathers should be clipped evenly, so the bird doesn’t lose its sense of balance.
How many need clipping is dependant on how well the budgie flys in the first place, start
with just a few and see if that gives the results you want. You can always do a few more if
necessary. Remember the object of the procedure is not to prevent flight completely, just to
moderate the distance and altitude of it.
The Cons Of Clipping;
· As mentioned above a badly trimmed wing can be damaging (possibly permanently),
painful or stressful to the budgie.
· Restricted flight also restricts the amount of exercise the bird can get.
Full Flight Pro’s;
· Tamed budgies that are allowed to fly tend to be more confident and outgoing.
· The exercise is good for them.
· If you do have other pets in the house (particularly cats and dogs) they have a
better chance of getting away if the cat or dog should accidentally be let into the room at
the same time your bird is out of its cage.
It is a fallacy to believe that a ‘full flight’ budgie is impossible to tame.
In actual fact a baby budgie (6 – 8 wks) is exceptionally easy to tame.
You just have to take the time to gain the birds confidence by being patient, calm,
talking to it softly and handling it gently. If you follow these common sense methods
your pet will bond with you easily. Older birds can be more troublesome when it comes to
taming, but it can be done.
Remember to ensure that the area your budgie fly’s in is as safe as possible.
Make sure everyone knows when you let your bird out so as to minimise any risks.
Make sure all doors and windows are shut. Lock your outer doors if necessary to prevent
any unexpected visitors from letting themselves in and unwittingly letting your bird out.
Other hazards include, standing water (sinks, toilets, fish tanks, cups and glasses, make
sure these are either removed or covered), fireplaces hot stoves and candles (scented candles
should never be used around birds because the fumes can harm their little lungs) be sure that
they are off and cold before letting your budgie out, fans, mirrors (these need to be covered
to prevent them from being flown into), toxic houseplants and chemicals, and of course other
pets need to be somewhere else too while your budgie is taking it’s exercise.
Just make sure to survey the area thoroughly before taking your pet out and your
budgie will be able to enjoy all the benefits of flight safely and you can relax and enjoy
it too. After all, a bird in flight is a beautiful thing to behold.
support@ukbudgies.co.uk
Thankyou
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