Having parrots at home is very common. They are small, colorful and very funny pets to see in their day to day. However, with their popularity as companions to human households, so has the number of people choosing to clip their wings to prevent them from escaping.
This practice, which may seem common, has its detractors when it comes to thinking about what is most beneficial for the bird. Do you want to know if parrots should have their wings clipped? Keep reading this article on our site!
How do you clip parrots' wings?
Before telling you whether or not it is advisable to cut your parrot's wings, it is necessary to explain a little about how the process is carried out and the modifications that it implies in these bird extremities.
When we talk about clipping wings, there are two main procedures and some levels in each. The first of these processes is the alectomy, which consists of removing the distal phalanges of the wing and removing the primary feathers, which are the most necessary for flight; that is, the joint is mutilated. This intervention is irreversible and the bird will never be able to fly again, so it is considered animal cruelty.
The other procedure is often called clipping. Trimming consists of cutting only the feathers, not the joint, and has different levels:
- Aesthetic Trim: some of the outer feathers are trimmed without touching the primaries, so the bird is still able to fly, but in a limited way. Some people do this to help the bird shed molting feathers.
- Complete clipping: consists of cutting the primary and secondary feathers, so the bird is unable to glide or fly.
- Intermediate or standard trim: this is a cut between the two previous ones, the primary feathers are pruned, but not the secondary ones. Because of this, the bird is able to glide if faced with a fall, but will not have greater freedom to fly.
All three trimming methods are reversible.
Should parrots' wings be clipped?
The answer to this question is no. Although it is a common practice, the truth is that there are more arguments to consider it as something negative for domestic parrots.
- First of all, keep in mind that, like many other birds, parrots are made to fly, so restricting something that is inherent in their nature is not only selfish, but it can also unleash in them strong stress attacks that lead them to pick at their bodies or even self-mutilate.
- Secondly, the main reason alleged for clipping the wings of parrots is to prevent them from escaping from homes, but the truth is that if you find yourself in a dangerous situation or falls from somewhere, there will be no way to avoid hitting the ground, which can mean death in most cases. In this sense, a parrot that is not able to fly is defenseless inside the home, and this can often be more dangerous than the risk of it going out the door. window.
- In addition to the psychologically traumatic component of not being able to fly, clipped-winged parrots lose their main exercise activity, thus which it is possible that they develop he alth problems and anxiety due to the accumulated energy.
- Apart from this, you should bear in mind that flying is also a way to protect yourself, since parrots, and in general all birds, they move away when they find themselves in situations that seem dangerous, intimidating or with which they do not feel comfortable. In this sense, if your parrot cannot fly and finds itself in a situation of this type, it will have no way of taking cover, so it will end up being a skittish bird that will never feel calm or comfortable with its surroundings.
In short, both alectomy and wing clipping are not recommended practices that do not benefit your parrot at all. You will not be safer at home, because you will encounter new obstacles that you will not know how to overcome, at the risk of injuring yourself, and you will develop negative attitudes as a result of the stress and trauma that seeing your natural abilities are restricted.
If what you want is to "protect" your parrot from external dangers for fear of it escaping, from our site we encourage you to inform yourself about the education of these incredible animals, since they are extremely intelligent. In all cases it is infinitely better to opt for positive reinforcement and education using beneficial techniques for animals.
What if the parrot is sick?
Is there a situation that justifies clipping the wings? The truth is that yes, but only in those cases in which the veterinary professional has recommended rest or immobility so that the parrot recovers from an injury or illness. In these same cases, it will be the veterinarian who performs the clipping of the feathers (not the mutilation of the joint, this is never justified), so it is not recommend doing it at home.
When this happens, the veterinarian will make a cut to prevent the bird from flying during the rest period, returning to normal when the wings grow again; that is, it is something temporary and for medical purposes only
As we say, this wing clipping should be done by the vet, never at home, as it requires instruments designed for such a task. Never try to do it at home, as you could cause your parrot a lot of pain and fatal injuries.
