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Post by Karen on Jun 8, 2005 4:57:24 GMT -7
Hi My baby will be 3 months on Saturday, and from bad experience, I want to get he wings clipped. The pet shop told us that she can only have them clipped when she is three months. And she must have flown already. Well she had flown, just about every day this passed week, and last night she flew straight into a glass door. She was ok but a bit dazed. How old must they be, and is it true that they still have “blood” in the tips of their feathers, until they have flown. (Sorry I’m rather confused about this) Has anyone got good advice? And if I do get her feathers clips, is there any “pretty” way of having it done, and not just leaving the first and last feather, on each wing?
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Post by Jane on Jun 8, 2005 5:25:22 GMT -7
Yes, it is usually advisable to wait until they have learnt to fly and land before clipping the wings.
When new feathers grow they are called blood feathers because they have a blood supply until they have matured, but this isn't to do with flying.
Greys need a careful clip if they are going to be clipped and it is usually only four or five primary flight feathers as they still need to be able to glide down and land safely. The cosmetic clips which leave the outer one or two feathers intact so that they can be seen when the wings are closed also leave these feathers vulnerable to injury.
Jane
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Post by Karen on Jun 8, 2005 5:30:06 GMT -7
Ok, so what would be the best way for clipping? As I would not like her to get hurt
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Post by Jane on Jun 8, 2005 5:35:08 GMT -7
Well you need to find someone who knows what they are doing. Someone on this forum had a bad experience with their Grey after a vet cut the secondaries as well as the primaries. Some suggest clipping the primaries just two on each side at first, see how far she can fly, cut another on each side and so on. If she can fly downwards about 15 feet that is okay.
Jane
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Post by Karen on Jun 8, 2005 5:42:38 GMT -7
Ok will try that, a good friend of mine had a grey as well, and I will find out where her vet is and get her wings clipped there, a few at a time
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Post by Baily on Jun 18, 2005 18:48:16 GMT -7
Hi new here! My new baby is now almost 7mths old. I was told as well to wait until they learn to fly and land before clipping. It makes sense -- to ensure they at least know how to handle themselves while in flight, so they don't hurt themselves. I'll be doing mine very shortly.
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debs12o
Weaned Todd
Joined: June 2005
Posts: 36
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Post by debs12o on Jun 20, 2005 5:18:31 GMT -7
Hi there, My Grey is 7 months old, is it essential to have the wings clipped? I really don't like the idea of having this done. I just think it seems cruel some how. Charlie is happy to fly around the house and we are happy letting him fly around. Is it okay to just leave him as he is? Thanks Debbie
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Post by Jane on Jun 20, 2005 6:30:50 GMT -7
It isn't an essential thing as such; it is a personal decision based on your own circumstances, and there are pros and cons either way. What is essential is that if the wings are going to be clipped they are done correctly by someone who knows what they are doing because a bad wing clip can lead to all sorts of problems.
Jane
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Post by mannie on Jun 21, 2005 12:07:45 GMT -7
All of my birds are clipped. I do know that none of them were clipped too earlly as they needed to learn how to fly first. When I got Jack, my cag, he was over a year and had a bad wing clip before but have finally got them cleaned up and looking great as well as him being able to glide like he should.
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Post by Karen on Jul 6, 2005 2:32:34 GMT -7
Hi Sweetie finally got her wings clipped, and she can still fly very short distances. My vet was also excellent with her, and told me that she looked very healthy and had a nice nature, (she didn’t bit him). I feel so much better now they are clipped . Thanks for all the advice again Jane, the vet only clipped the side of 10 feather on each wing.
She has learnt to jump up before take off to get further, but still I know she will not be able to fly off.
;D
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