Why you should have your bird clipped by a professional:
Wing clipping is a very personal decision that each Parront (parrot parent) should take for themselves. There are pros and cons to either. If you do plan on having your birds clipped you need to ensure that it is either done by an avian vet or someone who was trained by an avian vet to clip wings because there are many things that can go wrong if it were done by someone without the necessary qualifications.
Firstly, if you clip your own birds’ wings you can cause emotional trauma to your bird because of them connecting you to that bad experience they’ve had of being caught and having their wings clipped. You also can’t learn how to clip wings from the internet because it’s so difficult to see which feathers need to be clipped.
If someone unqualified clips your birds there are a bunch of things that could go wrong. One of these is cutting the wings too short which can cause damage to the wings or lead to the feathers not regrowing properly after a molt. This is especially difficult when you would like your bird to be able to fly again eventually when your circumstances are better. Another issue that can come up is that the wings can be clipped incorrectly which will lead to the parrot falling instead of gliding and getting hurt.
Another thing that could happen is the emotional impact that it can have on your bird who has been flighted all their life. Imagine being able to go anywhere you want, anytime you want and then suddenly being told you can’t go there unless you have a chaperone. That’s exactly what happens with clipped parrots. They’re able to fly from Point A to Point B for most of their life and then suddenly they have to rely on a human to come and move them. This can also in some cases lead to a start of excessive vocalisations because the parrot is trying to get your attention to move around.
Another issue that arises when someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing is, is when young birds are clipped too soon. It’s recommended to only clip birds once they are able to fly properly because fledging is an important stage in any parrot’s life. Being able to fly before being clipped also helps a lot should your parrot ever fly away due to being caught by a gust of wind because they will know how to fly and while they can’t fly far they can at least land safely instead of crashing when they land and getting hurt.
If you must clip your birds, please be careful and mindful and take into account all the different pros and cons. While avian vets are more expensive at least you know they are qualified and able to do their job properly.
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