More Chatboards | Print | Share | Report Post

Post: Wing Extensions?

Posted by Lydia on 4/05/06

I saw a show filmed in the UK where they gave a parrot wing
feather extensions because his wings were clipped. They
took a full feather and glued it into the cut feather
shafts so that the bird could fly again. I had never heard
of this before... is it normally practiced in the US and
Canada? For those of you who know about it... how do you
feel about the safety of this procedure? I was just
wondering because I would be willing to give molted wing
feathers from my Grey and Amazon to my vet, who knows that
the birds are healthy and disease free, if she is willing
to take them (if she even does this procedure). But before
bringing this up with my vet, I would like to learn more
about this procedure (as base knowledge) from people who
know about it or have used it, since they are not out to
make a buck (not to say that my vet is) and my vet is very
for flight (so, if she performs it she might be more
inclined to be for it so the bird can fly right away). Is
it safe? Is it (in certain situations) worth putting a
bird under to perform the procedure? Are adverse reactions
common... what is the severity and nature of these
reactions? What birds are candidates for this procedure?
Birds that have certain problems where imidiate flight
would benefit them... or just any bird who's owner wants it
to fly right away? Just curious... Feather Extensions...
never heard of it. Do you know of any sites with good
informaion on this... sites that are as un-biased as
possible. Stating the facts on the procedure itself and
not "why bird should fly" (or why they should not). Have
you ever heard of something going very wrong with a bird
that had wing extensions? Is it common for them to come
loose, possibly while the bird is in flight, and throwing
the bird off balance? I really don't know what to think of
this, seeing as I don't know anything about it. I just
don't want to ask the vet if she wants my feathers if this
procedure usually ends up doing more harm then good. I
don't even know where the feathers used come from... and
therefore... if I would be seen as a total idiot offering
mine.

(Please don't use this post to start another "to clip or
not" war. Though I have flighted birds, I am not pushing
my decision. I simply wish for some insight regarding this
procedure's safety and the grounds on which it is
performed...)

Posts on this thread, including this one

Wing Extensions?, 4/05/06, by Lydia.

Re: Wing Extensions?, 4/05/06, by Dave.

Re: Wing Extensions?, 4/06/06, by MKay.

Re: Wing Extensions?, 4/06/06, by woops.. sorry, gl.

Re: Wing Extensions?, 4/09/06, by A.

Re: Wing Extensions?, 4/09/06, by Curley.

Re: Wing Extensions?, 4/10/06, by Kitty.J.

Re: Wing Extensions?, 4/10/06, by Kel.

Re: Wing Extensions?, 4/11/06, by Lydia.