My decision

[Abaleesha]

I'll state from the start I am pro-choice. In order to make a decision about wing clipping I urge everyone to closely examine the pros and cons written up here and also really look at your own personality, lifestyle and home set up.

Nearly all my birds are now unclipped or in the process of growing out clips. Nearly all are in aviaries. Until the safety flight is put up on the front it means exercising extreme vigilance when going in and out the aviaries. Having said that I still had an IRN escape due to the floor still not being concreted, lack of safety flight and her digging out. This is one thing I didn't think about. I now check the aviary floors on a regular basis for any signs of digging until hubby gets his act together and does the concrete.

My inside birds are in their own room. The door remains shut at all times and anyone who enters has to knock. I made the decision to leave Arthur (my grey) unclipped after a lot of research into the matter talking to grey breeders, internet sites and about 4 different books specifically on african greys. He's just over 4 months old now and has started getting used to a harness and has begun recall training. I would never take him outside without the harness on and it gets checked for wear and tear everytime it goes on. I've invested alot of money into acquiring Arthur and waited along time to get him. I didn't make the decision lightly.

I'm not going to sit here and say all birds should be flighted because quite frankly I don't think they should be. Chances are the little GCC that we're keeping will end up being clipped for it's own safety. Already they're exhibiting signs of wanting to take on the big birds and one chomp and it's all over. Coco (BE2) isn't clipped but is incapable of flight due to a disability. If she was capable of flight I would clip her as I think it gives her more freedom to be able to spend the day wandering the backyard. I believe it gives her a better quality of life.

You can see my own approach is very much a case by case matter. I urge anyone contemplating the decision to also look at their birds, lifestyle, home set up etc as a case by case matter. Wing clipping isn't the answer to everything but neither is free flight. It depends upon the individual circumstances.

[Flyer]

touche'

[BirdMom]

I also have clipped and unclipped birds. My conures are clipped because if they were unclipped- they couldn't be out all day. The two conures do not like each other, we have 3 kids, our house is in no way safe for unclipped birds to have free reign. I would rather them have the ability to be out during the day on their cages, play stands, hanging gyms, play baskets, etc. then caged because of the dangers of flight. Also their clipping allows me to take them to go places (properly secured) with me in a way an unclipped bird could not. We are their socialization, entertainment and primary mates- we made the decision to do what they needed to be with the family the most amount of time possible.

Our pair of parrotlets and budgies are unclipped. They are caged for most of the day in large cages where they have room to fly. They also are let out in a room (as pairs) for free flight. This is done after the kids are in bed, the other pets are safely put away and all the doors are locked. The pairs of birds do not count on us for entertainment or socialization. I am only an external part of their flock- so we allow them to be unclipped. It gives them more to do as a pair. That said we have had them escape from their cage. It is extremely scary. They aren't recall trained and if they could get out of the house we would have little hope of recovery (except maybe our male parrotlet). My daughters had an individual budgie that was their companion bird and its wings were clipped.

I agree with Abaleesha- pro choice after life circumstances are thoroughly analyzed. I would never ever recommend a new bird owner to start off with an unclipped bird.

[Tielygirl]

I have to agree with both bird mom and abaleesha. I think once you are well informed, you need to be the one to analyze you lifestyle, and environment, and then decide whether or not you want them to be clipped or unclipped. that is how I am, except now that I am going to try recall training,
but like I said before, If things get out-of hand I will not hesitate to clip them, now since winter is right on our heels, we cant afford an accident.

[CJ]

My lifestyle has always been very busy and hectic and in my home people are in/out all the time. Since I don't have caged birds and always let them be "free range" as Flyer says and I found clipping was the choice for me.  I know free range may not be a choice that many people can do but it fits my life style and I enjoy the kids having their freedom in the home. Nothing warms my heart more than to hear little birdie feet coming down the hall to find mom for some attention.

Abaleesha and BirdMom have made some really great points. As with all things in life I am pro-choice.

[Tama]

I completely agree on pro-choice.  Our birds are all clipped simply because I couldn't bear to lose any of them.  We have nearly lost a budgie because she decided when the door was opened(mom was coming in) that she wanted out.  Door got shut just in time!  We lost a cockatiel baby before, he took off outside.  The 'tiels are not clipped on a regular basis.  They are allowed to have their wings grow out until they decide to fly.  They are homebodies, don't like to be held much and prefer playing in their cages and just having people talk to them.  The budgies are the same, but they always are "naughty with their wings" as my aunt says.  They have a regular basis clipping.  As for Ember, he rarely flies but we will get wing clippings from a vet for him.

All in all, it's how you live and how you view it!

[Badyaninymn]

Every decision taken is an un-conscious/sub-conscious/conscious attempt to ensure survival immortality.
Fear of Death and Desire for life are the basis of any decision.
Fear of Death and Desire for life drives one towards survival imortality.