Leslie: Cockatiels were born to fly and there is nothing more beautiful than watching your cockatiel in flight. However, there is also nothing more devastating than watching your cockatiel fly right out the door, open window. I clip my birds for three reasons. First, I clip for safety. There is a large sliding glass door in my apartment, and I would hate to see my babies fly head on, into that window.
Second, I clip because it makes my birds a little more dependent on me. I get a taste of how independent birds can be, when I allow their wings to grow out a bit. My cockatiels tend to develop a little attitude and challenge me for the position of flock leader.
Finally, I clip my cockatiels to prevent escapes. I allow my tiels to stay out of their cages most of the day, and I would hate for them to sneak out the front door. Clipping the bird's wings doesn't hurt them at all. This is a completely painless procedure.
Before we get started, you'll need together few things, here is the list. One pair of scissors, preferably with blunt ends. Blunt ends are important, so you do not accidentally poke your cockatiel. One assistant to help you hold the bird. Hopefully this person is comfortable around your cockatiels, and knows how to handle birds. Some people prefer to use a towel. We personally do not use the towel, because it seems to really stress them out.
Once your assistant has your cockatiel restrained, you can carefully stretch out the bird's wing, before you cut, it's important to examine the wing for new growth feathers. New growth feathers contain blood. If you cannot identify the difference between a blood feather and a non blood feather, you should not clip your cockatiel's wings. Leave it to the professionals. I will be trimming their primary flight feathers. Here it goes, I make sure my bird is calm, I gently pull the wing out. I slide the scissors in and being careful that I stay away from the bird's body, and clip, that wing is done. I make sure my bird is calm, and then on to the next.
I gentle pull the wing out. I slide the scissors in, being careful that I stay away from the bird's body, and clip, that wing is done. After I've clipped both wings, I would like to spend some time with my cockatiel. I reassure them, tell them I love them, and stretch that little spot on top it's head that makes him so happy.
For those feeling sorry for their clipped cockatiels out there, please know this. My clipped cockatiels are incredibly smart, and they have learn very quickly how to get around using their feet and beak. I think in order to get what they want sometimes, they have even figured out how to manipulate me, because of this, I use clipping the wings to manipulate them, after all I am their flock leader.
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