upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

Just wondering here.

After Sera went through her first molt, I didn't want to clip her (she came to us clipped).

She's doing SO well and I think a little happier. She was starting to be a feather shredder, but that has stopped completely. Now we just need to get a good harness as she knows how to take off her Feather Tether! lol

So.......anyone else? Any stories?

In October, Winter came to me with a very severe wing clip. He had chewed his feathers on his shoulders and under the winges where it had apparently irritated him to distration. His flight feathers are nearly grown in and he has stopped bothering the areas that he had been looking for some relief in. I have very mixed feelings about clipping and I am not exactly sure what I am going to do about it yet. Winter has gained a huge amount of confidence since his wings are coming back. Though he doesn't exactly fly.. he does flap with great exuberance now. I have been told that 'toos aren't really "flighty" birds, they prefer to walk or climb. But the fact that perhaps he CAN fly seems to make a huge difference to him. Same with my other birds. I let them have wings in the winter time because they are always indoors. When summer comes they are gently trimmed and limited to a descending flight path of about 10 feet. Still I am greatly terrified of the possibility that they may end up in the top of a tree and not able to figure out how to get back. No experience or training would limit their ability to return. I. also would appreciate advice or experience in this area. Help us make a responsible decision !! After all birds are meant to fly.... but they so depend on us for their safety !
Thanks
Cheryl

I dont worry about clipping, some birds really stress over it, and ours do not go outside they like to walk around on the floor more than want to fly. The goffin is fully flighted and does make her way around the house, I keep shears on all windows so no flying into them. Id rather just leave our birds wings natural and always keep them inspected for blood feathers and any problem areas. Just my 2cents.

I plan on getting the Aviator harness for Sera. Like I said, she can take off her Feather Tether and the Aviator seems much more comfortable and I have heard good reviews of it (from people who have tried both).

Cheryl, I'm kind of like you. Birds are meant to fly. So if that means that Sera cannot go outside except in an outdoor cage or harnessed, then so be it. She just seems happier flighted.

And she doesn't seem to be flying everywhere. She will fly from her playstand to follow me if I step out of the room for a moment. That's fine.....it doesn't bother me one bit. And she has done laps around the kitchen/family room. I open the cabinets and she gets a kick out of landing on top of them. That and the top of the fridge seems to be a big hit as well!

I don't have any Cockatoos but my birds (Caique, Senegal, and many Lovebirds) are all flighted. They love to exercise their wings around the house and people love to see what a bird does best- Fly! The big birds are always harnessed when going outside (the lovies are in a cage if they go out). I love having my Caique fly around the house to me. Just like you Mom2Sera, my birds love the top of the Fridge. They also love the ceiling fans (which we never have on when the birds are out), but they loved them so much, I had to take the blades off since they kept trying to chew them up and they always pooped on them!

A flighted U2 seems like an awfully big bird to have flying around the house. and Winter has yet to fly exactly . But he hangs on to the bars of his cage and just flaps like he is going to leave the hemisphere.
Winter has not experienced summer here yet, but my Grey and Eclectus have had an outdoor play gym on the patio for the last several years. The natural sunlight and fresh air seems so good for them and they just love listening to the sounds and watching the sights of good weather. And because I spend so much time outside gardening and mowing the lawn,taking them outside seemed like a given.The Grey even likes riding around with me on the lawn mower. Both have been trimmed in the past. I am just afraid that even with a clip, they might just catch an updraft and be 60 feet up in a tree before I could get off the chair. SOOOO , I am thinking about an outdoor aviary... or large flight cage. I don't want to leave them outdoors ,for sure, but I think some outdoor play time would be a good thing...any body have any experience with them? Would a large dog kennel do the job? Thanks for all your input everyone ! It's sure fun to have you guys around .
Cheryl

Ok. sorry guys. a few things I forgot to ask about. (Not like the last one wasn't long enough) When you let your 'toos out for play time, what do they do?Or what do you do with them? I tell ya, the minute Winter gets down off a cage or play area, he heads right for something he shouldn't be near. I just don't get it... he has damaged wood work and plaster, causing me a few repairs I didn't exactly plan on. Even if he is on top of his cage and I don't pull it away from the window.... he's chewing on the wood frames that enclose the picture windows.. Now I understand their need to chew.. but he is provided with LOTS of toys, tree branches and other organic material that he spends plenty of time with. If I were to let him on top of the fridge... the cupboards above it would be sawdust in no time.
So.. about all I can do is carry him around with me so he doesnt head for the moldings on the floor or the trim around the doors or whatever. Even when I put him in the birdy play room.. he climbs to the highest branch and goes for the pine ceiling... totally ignoring all of the vines and toys he has . SOOOOO what do YOU guys do???
Thanks ..again
Cheryl

Hi Cheryl,

I have an amazing too, a greater sulphur crested called Gizzy, who I have had the pleasure of sharing my life with for the past 4 years. When he came to me he also had a very bad wing clip, and was a miserable little bird. I let his wings grow, and had the pleasure of watching him learning to fly!! He couldnt fly downwards at first, I think he was suprised when he flapped whilst I was giving him a bath, and ended up ontop of the door!!

Gizzy also heads straight for anything that he shouldnt have, Im on my third sky remote, and have lost count of the mobile phones Ive lost! I think the trick is not to draw attention to the bits you want him to stay away from. Because the sky remote and the phone I constantly play with, he thinks this is the correct thing to do! So ive found that ignoring the things you dont want him to chew, and play with his toys whilst you sit watching tv, or walk roung with them, he will want them and not your skirtingboards!!

Hope this helps,

Nicky