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Re: Why you shouldn't wing clip

Posted by bill on 4/12/12
(82) Comments
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    On 6/01/05, Emma wrote:
    > I would like to clarify, this was not written by me, but
    > by someone who wholeheartedly shares my opinion on this
    > topic. Please read my last post under Birdie Welfare for
    > my opinion.
    >
    > WHY NOT TO CLIP WINGS:
    >
    > Flying is one of a bird's chief pleasures.
    >
    > Flying is the only meaningful form of exercise for a
    > bird. No flying = no exercise = no cardiovascular fitness.
    >
    > A clipped bird is very much at risk of injury or death
    > from a bad fall, or septic sore from repeated minor falls.
    > He is also seriously at risk of being trampled on, or
    > caught by a dog or cat. These risks surely outweigh the
    > natural risk of escape or crash injury if un-clipped. It
    > is easy to make a room safe for a flying bird.
    >
    > A clipped bird is likely to become frustrated at not
    > being able to fly. Frustration easily leads to feather
    > plucking.
    >
    > Flight is every bird's birthright.
    >
    > If your bird can't fly, you never experience the thrill
    > of having it fly TO YOU.
    >
    > If your bird is clipped, you can never delight in the
    > grace and exuberance of his flight.
    >
    > A clipped bird looks mutilated and diminished because it
    > IS mutilated and diminished.
    >
    > Whereas there is every reason to feel pride when an able
    > bird chooses to come to you, the same can't be said if
    > your pet needs you because he's absolutely helpless.
    >
    > Me and My Birds: My name is Helen Day and I'm a small
    > scale budgie breeder. I think budgerigars are great, and
    > I've kept them most of my life. I live in England, and
    > I've never known anyone have a budgie clipped. It isn't
    > the done thing here. Emma- It definitely isn't the done
    > thing here, and I've never lost a bird, nor do I know
    > anyone who has. We seem to get along fine in England
    > without wing-clipping, why can't you in the States?
    >
    > Helen: I can't think of any reason to clip. I once had 4
    > budgies at liberty, all day, every day, in a 23 foot
    > living room; it wasn't a problem. At another time, a had a
    > traumatized, half wild budgie in that room. I let him out
    > for 20 minutes each morning before catching the bus to
    > work, and he never once made me late. You might also be
    > interested to know that many of my aviary budgerigars come
    > to me - even though they have not only their full wings,
    > but also lots of friends of their own kind. Some of these,
    > past and present, have been almost cuddly tame, and nearly
    > all these individuals have been female. From time to time,
    > I have had experience of parakeets which have been unable
    > to fly, for one reason or another, and this is how I have
    > learnt about their problems.
    >
    > Did you know? that wild budgerigar flocks are a wonderful
    > sight when they're on the wing? They all turn and wheel as
    > one, and as they do, their contrasting front and back
    > colors flash in the bright sunlight.
    >
    > Did you know? that when parakeets mate, the male needs his
    > flight feathers to help him balance? He enfolds the female
    > in one of his long wings. Emma- I have seen this
    >
    > Did you know? that a mother budgie will wrap a warming,
    > long wing around her young, when they have grown too big
    > to sit on?
    >
    >
    > Emma- Why oh why must people wing-clip. I really cannot
    > convey my hatred of this practice.