Alternatives to Clipping?

BC · Guest

Hi all

I just completed the grim task of retrieving a dead
1 1/2 yr Senegal that I bought last year for my parents.
It disappeared Saturday and at first we thought it had
gotten lost in the attic, which was something that
happened just a couple of weeks ago. I then got the
ominous feeling that it had hitched a ride unnoticeably
on my father's heavy coat when he went out to get
some groceries. I later put a Lost & Found notice in
Craigslist for them and the next day was contacted
by someone who found the small frozen body several
blocks over.

So that was devastating to my parents and I'm kind
of upset because I had made the intial visit to the
breeder and found the gentle little beast who became
a very mischievous one later on.

My mom wants another Senegal right away, but I
kind of want her and my father to hold off until I have
a better idea of how not to have such a foolish tragedy
ever repeated. I've always been anti-clipping on the
principle that clipping == crippling. My brother and
his family were always annoyed that the Senegal was
never clipped because it would always fly on them
when they were visiting, and they think that if the
Senegal had been clipped, it would be alive now.
I don't know about that -- before it started flying, it
would often end up on the floor and barely missed
getting stepped on a couple of times. I have a friend
with a Conure whom she keeps clipped, and he too
is prone to fall to the floor from time to time. And I
kind of like being greeted by a playful little bird when
I go visiting.

I read up on partial-clipping and all that, but.... I
just want the next bird to be happy & safe. Any
thoughts and advice would be most appreciated.

-BC

John Hines · Guest

"BC" <callmebc@gmail.com.NOSPLAM> wrote:

Alex Clayton · Guest

"John Hines" wrote in message
I
just want the next bird to be happy & safe. Any
thoughts and advice would be most appreciated.
With a partial clip the bird can fly, just not far. It is like putting
leg weights on a human, you can still run, it just takes a lot more
effort.
In some ways, it is good for a captive bird, in that it increases the
workout they get when they do fly.
[/quote]
That's how I always did it with clipping. I do not clip the Little birds any
more but when I did I would do a little at a time. What I was after was for
them to not be able to get going good, but not to the point they dropped
like rock. With the Macaw I still clip but have to have him outside to see
how well it worked at first. Now I know from experience but during the
"learning curve" he scared me a couple times. He took some good trips, could
not get up in the air, but could get several houses down the street before
he went to ground with me running after him. It was not funny at the time
but I laugh about it now. With small birds if they get outside and can fly
you rarely ever see them alive again. It's great when they (small birds) can
fly around the house, but it's a risk.
--
"Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites.
Moderation is for monks."
[Lazarus Long]

BC · Guest

Thanks for the feedback. I can and did Google this,
but it's nice to get direct feedback. Apparently in
Great Britain, it's considered almost unethical to
clip pet birds. I am leaning towards encouraging a
partial clip as a compromise but even partial
clipping makes me antsy philosophically.

-BC

John Hines · Guest

"BC" <callmebc@gmail.com.NOSPLAM> wrote: