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Re: Wing Extensions?

Posted by A on 4/09/06
(9) Comments
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    I have never had this done. But I do know that it has been
    done in the US to wild birds due to injuries. Now to do this
    to a pet bird that was clipped on purpose it makes no sense
    to do that has the feathers grow back after a molt.


    On 4/05/06, Lydia wrote:
    > 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...)