Posted by joincali3 on Sat, 11/03/2007 - 18:28 :: Cockatiels
"Baby" had her wings clipped when I inherited her (1 yr old), I let them grow out thinking she would enjoy more freedom being able to fly. However i began to realize the danger to her. I had her wings clipped and she doesn't chirp or answer anymore, her appetite is not the same and she just seems depressed. Is there anything I can do to improve her attitude or is she making herself sick?
Posted by karen on Tue, 11/06/2007 - 22:11.
Wing clipping is hard on birds who are used to flying. Once, I took my flighted GCC in for claw clipping and they did her wings, too. I clip her claws myself, now!
She was depressed, needy, and clingy for many months after, until she had grown in enough feathers to fly with some control.
There are some things you can try doing to help. If she liked to fly to a perch or gym, you can move it closer and put a long perch or rope between it and her cage so she can get to it. Give her a ladder to the floor so if she flutters to the floor she can get back up. She will feel safer if she still has some freedom to get around on her own.
If she was clipped short, so she is landing hard or just falling when she tries to fly, keep her cage over a rug or carpet so she is less likely to injure herself.
In the future, IF you decide to keep her clipped (I much prefer flighted birds myself), you should try to keep her clipped consistantly, and if you need to clip a bird who is used to flying, it should be done gradually, a feather or two per wing at a time so they can adjust.

Karen
Chico (conure) and Pippin (budgie)
WI