My flock has always been clipped. At the beginning of this year, I stumbled upon a site with a message board that really emphasized that parrots are wild and should be treated as such...including allowing them to fly as nature intended them to do. After numerous articles on wing clipping versus not clipping...I made the decision to continue clipping them, for their safety.

Diego came into my life in April...his belly, legs, parts of wings (under and on top), rump, and part of his back were plucked clean. He stands on his wings to hold them down, and knaws (sp?) at his clipped flight feathers. Even with his flight feathers clipped, he glided VERY well around the old house...which led me to believe that he used to have free flight. So, I decided to let them grow out...hoping/thinking that it may curve his plucking/chewing habits. (No luck so far, but all the flight feathers have not grown in yet).

So, I guess with allowing him to have full flight...I decided that it wasn't fair to the rest of the flock to never have the joy of flying. Maggie and Paulie, unfortunently were bought as babies...and they've never had their God-given priveledge to fly...not even once. Their feathers were clipped from day one. I didn't know any better back then...I thought that "domesticated" birds shouldn't be allowed to fly. Anyway...

Now that I'm in a new house (MY house)...I feel even more confident in allowing them to have free flight. I control the environment and make everything safe for them. I don't have company that comes over much, and I'm there alone pretty much all day, except when my significant other comes over. The living room outside door (where they are) is NOT used...at all. It remains locked 24/7. To get outside, we use the back door...and you have to go thru 2 doors and a garage door to actually get outside...I like having the double doors...extra security.

All of the windows have blinds, so that the birds can see that there is a baracade...so they don't smash into it. (The bathroom is closed off to them, so no mirrors). Diego has gotten real good at perching on the blinds ...he'll fly right over me (trying to get him to learn voice recognition/recall, like banned suggested) and perch on the blinds instead, so I know that he knows that he can't fly thru the window. Mag and Diego have learned to perch VERY well...I'm quite impressed. (Diego must have had free flight before...he's just too good). I "taught" Maggie how to land by using my bed with a couple of soft/fluffy blankets to make her landings soft. The other day, Len "tossed" her to me and she perched on my arm like she was a pro...I'm so proud of her...

The bottom line is that I want them happy. I'm not trying to be selfish with my decisions or anything. I just want to offer them the very best that life has to offer. I put them above everything else in my life...and I ensure that they're safe and as happy as can be. Anyone who knows me knows that...anyone who knows my current situation knows that.

I would never make an irrational decision when it comes to them...that's why I've thought long and hard about letting them fly, as it can be extremely risky and dangerous. But, it can also be extremely rewarding and safe...it's up to the humans to provide a suitable environment.

p.s...the links that you left were great. I especcially loved the last link...full of information and tips on how to keep a flighted parrot safe in the home.

Thanks for posting this Lynne. My Echo's wing clip looked very similar to Baby's when we got him. We had to deal with multiple injuries due to his lack of being fledged and his inability to fly due to his butchered flight feathers. He hit the floor like a ton of bricks!! I had read about pulling flight feathers to induce new growth, but after careful consideration we decided to ride it out, made other provisions to insure his safety and allowed mother nature time to molt out the clipped feathers. We spent many, many hours in flight training and finally, about 4months ago he made his first controlled flight (about 20 feet) and a controlled landing. We have for now, made the decision to allow him full flight. It is rare that he chooses this as his mode of transportation tho. He still prefers to walk, run or request a step up over flight. As he comes into his own and becomes more flight proficient, we of course, may need to reconsider. Excellent articles - thanks for sharing! Janet

Both our TAG, Layla, and our G2, Fynn, came to us clipped. Fynn obviously had learned to fly before being clipped- and despite the fact that he has no flight feathers-he is able to get some lift and is really quite agile. Layla, on the other hand, seems to have not had the same opportunity and being a denser bird, falls like a sack of bricks- luckily no injuries thus far- but I worry and have padding everywhere possible. I want her feathers to grow back to at least give her the opportunity to learn to fly and get her wings under her. I know that Greys are labeled as clumsy- but could it have something to do with wing clipping and the baby bird therefor never learns balance?

I've heard some talk about harnessing a flighted bird. I think flight suits are absolutely rediculous. I am not too keen on the idea either way and prefer to transport my birds via carrier. Any thoughts?

I have mixed feelings about it. I have never seen a bird with a hack job worse than Bono's. I really don't think Bono ever experienced flight, but 'Zilla definitely has. Even with his wings clipped, he gets quite a bit of lift, and tries to hop from cage to cage to terrorize the other birds. I had wanted to let his feathers grow in and keep him fully flighted, but now I'm not sure how well that will work out. The other birds here are absolutely terrified of him, and he seems to take delight in this. He is also not easy to get back into his cage before we leave and at night. Not only do we have other birds to worry about, but we have a good-sized indoor waterfountain with turtles in it, and skinks too. I worry not only about him drowning, but about him taking some hors d'oeuvres from there.
This is not netted in or anything. There are just natural stones all around it and plants. Our great room, which we use as a living room and bird room (so we can all be together) is very large (a bit over 1000 sq ft) with tall ceilings and fans. I have turned off the fans, but I worry that we may need them in the winter to bring the heated air down. I am starting to question the wisdom in letting his wings come back in. I think he needs to br flighted to be happy, though, so I'm still trying to work through this and come to the best decision. I wish I could invite you up here, Lynne, to take a look around, meet 'Zilla, and help me make this decision.

Oh, WOW, those fans are great!
do you have any trouble getting your birds back into their cages when you need to? I don't want to become a whip cracking flock leader, but I don't want anarchy here, either. What do you do when you need your birds to go somewhere (into a carrier, etc)?

Lynne - Great info. All our birds are fully flighted but not all of them fly. We are teaching Victor and Georgia to fly. Mordecai can fly and has some decent control but is still a little clumsy. When he lands, he always looks shocked and says. "Uh Oh!!" The remainder of the flock are excellent fliers. Marcus, my tiel is a champ and your description of Baby's ability to fly through small openings fits him to a "T".

I do have to share a story of how my son decided to start teaching Victor to fly. This is absolutely NOT a method that I would recommend. However, Victor is a very unusual, tolerant bird and Kevan is an unusual, odd son. Kevan created a game called the "Bird-a-pult". He places blankets and pillows at one end of the family room. Next, he will lay back in the recliner until it is in the fully reclined position and place Victor on the head of the chair. Then he sits up suddenly which springs the chair foward and catapults Victor into the air and safely across the room to a soft landing. I was mortified the first time Kevan showed me that game. But they are best buds and playmates and Victor loves the game and comes back for more. Go figure. Sometimes I swear he refuses to fly on his own because it is so much more fun to be launched.

banned - as always you are a well of terrific information. I have been looking for a "safe" ceiling fan. Thanks.

Funny in a spooky kind of way to see this post today. Yesterday
Sully zipped out of the bird room and straight into the toilet ....prompting me to a) fish him out b) yell at hubs and c) think geez must book appointment for wing trim. (He is the only bird I trim here- partly becasue he likes going out in public with me and partly cause he finds trouble easily).
Monday- today- I came home from work to find a loose Sully and an alive Sully stomping about on his cage top. I am CERTAIN if he was trimmed he would be dead.... he must have flown at least off his cage and back to it- had he been trimmed he would have glided to the floor where at the very least the cat I am fostering til she is spayed next week would have eaten him! He has learned how to remove his water dish and use that port hatch to escape- it has taken me 4 different clips to finally ( I hope) figure out one he can't open ( all since I got home today!)

Perhaps he won't be going out in public with me anymore...... he is determined to give me a heart attack - that at least seems obvious!

Now in this house - Conrad didn't fly, Rosiemarie can't fly, Cajun is so tame she only flies to get onto me and Wasabi is so cage bound he won't leave his home. Nellie so far has only used her wings as a method to get to me as well Sully is the only candidate for safety clipping and I have always thought it gave him the best chance of life until today.

cheers

brody

Great post, Lynne.

Gregory, my Brown Headed, was never allowed to fly as a baby before being clipped.

Scrabble, our Sun Conure, must have been allowed to learn to fly before she was clipped.

We have allowed both of their feathers to grow in now, and Scrabble is a master of flight, but Gregory still doesn't really have it - flying too fast, and not knowing how to land.

However, he is getting better which is fantastic to see.

Here's the conundrum. We are going away at Christmas for 5 days (our first holiday in 6 years) and will either leave them with my other half's mom, or our friend who has boarded them before.

I have to admit, although I trust the people, I don't quite trust either option to be as diligent about safety as we are, so now I'm thinking do we get them clipped?

On the one hand, I can't bear to think of one of them flying into something dangerous, or out through a carelessly left door, but then, I feel like I will be crippling them on purpose, just so I can sleep nights.

What would you do?

Sandy

How exactly did you work with them, banned and Hello Baby, to get them to fly on command to where you need them to be? I saw the post from you, Lynne, where you said you use a favorite toy. Right now, I don't have anything that my birds do not consider absolutely dispensible when they'd rather be or do something else. All of my birds have "moods" when it comes to their toys. I wonder if I encouraged this, with my constant changing out of their toys? I am always rotating their toys. Maybe that prevents them from getting attached to one that I can use as currency with them? Can you dumb it down for me please?

OK - decision made

My other half's mom has agreed to look after both of them over Christmas. She will sing and dance to them, and talk to them for hours, so I am sure that they will be kept amused, warm, fed and happy for those 5 days.

She has enough respect for her own abilities with handling them to be extremely careful, and they have been to her house before, so should not be afraid.

As for the clipping, Gregory made 2 disastrous flights this weekend, both ending in loud (and so scary) crash landings. Thankfully, although dazed at the time, he is OK, but it has made my mind up to have him clipped. I feel really bad, but I know that if I don't, he's going to really hurt himself. My heart stops every time he takes off.

As for Scrabble, we will leave her fully flighted, but as I said, Dave's mom knows to be ever so careful with her.

To be honest, they both have larger than they need cages, so should I feel guilty if they stay in them for 5 days?

Sandy

Should you feel guilty?...no. It's probably better if they stay in their cages...safer for everyone involved. They'll stay content with their toys and enjoy the company surrounding them. At least they'll have someone familiar taking good care of them. When I worked at the vets, people would board their birds all of the time...most of them were just terrified: unfamiliar surroundings, strangers, etc.

When I lived at home I took weekend get-a-ways as often as I could (not very often), and my flock always did great with my grandma getting thier food and water. They stayed in their cages and played with toys and grandma entertained them with singing and acting goofy.

Sandy, if you're worried about how your flock is going to react, there is one thing that my vet stresses with the boarders in his care, and that is food measurement. The employees have to measure food daily to make sure the birds are eating okay. The birds are also weighed every other day. If I were you, I'd pre-measure food for your mother-in-law; one day's serving for each bird in a baggie. Make sure your mom SEES that they eating well. If there is a change in appetite, she can call you so you can give further instructions (call vet, etc.). This, in itself, always gave me great peace of mind when I left my flock under the care of my grandma or mom. I'd also leave a list of what to do for emergencies and how to carry out first aid, and the vet's contact information...as well as directions to get to the vet.

This is your first vacation in 6 years...you surely deserve one, but I can understand you being worried about leaving Gregory and Scrabble. Just take as many precautions as you can to ensure their safety and try to enjoy yourself on vacation. Gregory and Scrabble will be just fine in their cages for 5 days...really.

I am enjoying a few of my birds having free flight. I was not able to allow them the freedom when my kids were younger and people were in and out constantly. Now that my kids are all grown, I have let certain birds enjoy free flight and they love it..and it's thrilling to ME to watch their self confidence grow as they have learned to maneuver around the house.

Ducky (the G2), came to me fully flighted and she can find me wherever I go in the house, I can't hide! LOL She is a good strong flyer, but my others are a bit clumsy, the Grey's are getting better though.

My Amazon is a natural, he is so beautiful going down the hall, but when he goes into his aggressive "mode" I have had to clip him because he can be even more aggressive when fully flighted. I am just now letting him grow his flight feathers back out after a year of being clipped, he was attacking me and I had no control over him at all when fully flighted, he was dangerous.

I still recommend to those brand new to birds OR who have active homes with a lot of people/children around and doors opening and closing, ceiling fans going.....to keep their birds clipped. It really is dangerous if you are not set up to have free flighted birds, there are sooo many dangers you don't even think of. (open toilet seats for example, can be deadly to the small birds) and a sink full of water, or cooking something on the stove, the list goes on and on.

Having fully flighted birds is not for everyone...or every bird, but it is a beautiful thing to see when you are able to allow them to have flight.

Our G2, Gijit's wings were originally clipped by the vet when he came in from the rescue. We debated about whether to let them grow out or not. All of our resident birds had clipped wings.

After much discussion we decided to allow them to come back in. Although we went through a little bit of problems during a short bout of hormones (?) we don't regret it.

Gijit has developed a level of independence and confidence that has really been fun to watch. When we take him out of his sleeping cage in the morning , he flies to his daytime cage. At nighttime he flies back to his sleeping cage. I feel that this additional outlet for his energy has helped decrease his bouts of overpreening.

Yes it does entail some management. It can be difficult keeping him away from things he wants and we must put him in his cage for company, but we feel it is worth it when we get to see him fly to Nick or me for attention. He loves to fly down the long hallways when I take him to work. He is truly wonderful to see in motion. I wish I could let him fly free outside where he really belongs.

Linda