| Title: | Captive Breeding for Conservation--and FUN! |
| Notice: | INTROS 6.X / FOR SALE 13.X / Buying a Bird 900.* |
| Moderator: | VIDEO::PULSIFER |
| Created: | Mon Oct 10 1988 |
| Last Modified: | Tue Jun 03 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 942 |
| Total number of notes: | 6016 |
I cut the wing feathers on my cockateil, Rosie, but even with this he
still flies quite well. He's a real strong bird. He is good company,
and I would love to take
him out of his cage to sit on my shoulder while I spend time on our
"open" patio.
Someone at work told me to just cut his tail feathers too and that would
really ground him. I suppose this would work but it sounds so
dramatic. Has anyone ever done this? Would this be considered cruel?
Would cutting his tail feathers affect his balance?
Any comments/advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jeanne
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 812.1 | AIRBORNE COCKATIEL | ABACUS::BOURGAULT | Thu Jul 22 1993 13:19 | 15 | |
You should clip his wings shorter. If they are clipped the right
length, then Rosie should not be able to fly at all, but instead
flutter to the ground. Did you also clip his secondary feathers on
his wings (the smaller ones that are closer to the body). Those need
to be trimmed short as well.
Don't cut his tail feathers. There is no need to. It isn't your
bird's strength that is keeping him airborne - its his wings. I cut
my birds feathers upside down (My husband holds him and spreads his
wings - I then clip him with the underside showing so that I won't
cut a blood feather. It works quite well.
Best of luck!
Denise B.
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| 812.2 | Wing upholders! | UTROP1::BOSMAN_P | Fri Jul 23 1993 04:38 | 5 | |
If you clip your cockatiel it is much nicer to leave the two outer
primaries untouched. The wings can than still rest naturally �nd it
looks a whole lot better.
Peter
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| 812.3 | Pls. DON'T leave the outer primiaries....especially on tiels | RAGMOP::COMPTON | Fri Jul 23 1993 11:57 | 19 | |
I have to disagree with the previous noter, having seen the dangerous side of this look that some like in the birds. Tiels especially are subject to thrashing at the slightest provocation, especially at night when disturbed by unusual noises, light, or motion. The outer two primaries can get caught in swings, toys, perches, and cage wires and snap the wing bones or break blood feathers, if the primaries are still growing out to full length. Also, the tiels fly wonderfully well with these extra feathers to help them, so are more subject to escape or generally getting themselves in trouble if they are intentionallly or unintentially flying free. My vets and their vet techs will not guarantee the safety of birds that they clip if the owner insists on leaving the outer two primaries, again especially on tiels (Littleton Animal Hospital, Littleton, Massachusetts). A clean trim of all the primaries give the 'chevron' look when the birds wings are extended and a smooth line to the body when at rest. I encourage you to not leave the outer two primaries on any of your birds that you trim. Linda | |||||
| 812.4 | ex | SWAM1::DEFRANCO_JE | Fri Jul 23 1993 12:17 | 9 | |
I won't leave any primaries. I don't want to take any risk in loosing
this bird. Heck, he doesn't have any primaries now and he still flies.
It's obvious to me that in this case I need to take more off not leave
more on.
Thanks,
Jeanne
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