First Flight

With all these new babies, we are having a lot of first flights around here!  So, we really have to be careful.  We always clip our babies after they take their first good flight.  It has to be a good flight though, not a bumbly one. This allows the baby to build up both confidence and coordination.  This is an ageless debate and will probably continue as long as people keep birds for companions, to clip or not to clip.

Ideally, an outdoor flight or habitat (where the weather permits) is the perfect place to house your bird or birds.  In this way, you would be able to allow your birds to remain fully flighted.  This can get costly though.  First you must determine the size you need, which for the larger parrots, can end up being quite large.  Then, determine the size wire, the predator protection, insect barrier and definately do not forget a safe double entrance so that your birds can not accidently fly out.

Another option is to bird proof a room in your home so that your bird can fly safely.

Many breeders and other sources believe that birds should be left fully flighted.  The attitude in Europe is that it is abusive and inhumane to clip a parrot.  It is believed that an unclipped parrot is happier and healthier than one that has been clipped to remove it's flight capabilities.

The aim of feather clipping is not to remove the bird's ability to fly, flying is an important exercise that all birds should be allowed to do for both physical and mental health.  The goal of feather clipping is to merely limit the bird's ability to reach full height or speed when it does fly.   If the bird is clipped correctly, it will not fall like a stone, but will actually glide and control it's flight enabling it to land safely.  This allows the owner to have increased control.  Clipping should be carried out by an experienced person who understands how to clip correctly. 

All birds need to learn to fly, maneuver, balance and land whether you intend to clip them or not.  This is why we also wait until they take their first good flight around the house.  They need to develope these flying skills and build their flight muscles.

Feather clipping is carried out for many safety reasons; windows, doors, cookers, toilets and many more thing around the house present possible danger to birds kept as companions.  However, the danger is always there whether the bird is clipped or not.  Every bird owner should be aware of the dangers and hazards around their home.  Clipping the wing feathers will reduce the speed at which a bird can fly as well as the distance, so it is easier  for the owner to supervise it. 

The biggest fear of all bird owners is that their bird may escape.  This is possible whether the bird is clipped or not.  Each and every room that your bird has access to should be checked for openings to the outside.  You should also make sure that you inform all household members when your bird is out.  When I am hand-feeding the babies all doors and windows are closed and I always make sure that I tell Robert and David.  We have had one baby fly out the front door.  We were taking a baby Cockatiel out to clip it and the front door accidently got opened.  It took off out of my hands and after circling the house it flew out.  Even to this day I regret that I did not make sure the door was securely closed.

With just a slight gust even a clipped bird can gain height and distance, a correct clip will only limit a bird indoors where there is no wind.  It is the wind that gives the bird the extra lift that it needs to get up there. 

Closing doors to kitchens or toilets while your bird is out will reduce the risk of it landing on hot cooking survices, in boiling water or in toilets.  Always remember these risks are there whether your bird is clipped or not.  If doors can not be closed then toilets seats should be down, cookers cooled (and covered), fish tanks covered, windows and doors closed, and any other immediate dangers removed before your bird is allowed out.



With a clipped or flighted bird the same risks are there both behaviorly and with dangers around the home.  It is up to us  as responsible bird owners to keep our birds safe and happy using the methods that we feel work the best and by taking the necessary precautions to remove those dangers that may be present around our homes.

Supervision is always needed when a bird is out of it's cage. In many ways they are like toddlers and young children, if there is something to get into, they will find it. There is always something around that could possibly hurt your bird in some way. Keeping an eye on your bird while it is at play is your best way of ensuring that you can remove the bird from any potentally harmful situation before it can happen.