Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    Their feather grow back with the next molt, which from what
    I have read here is about 6 months. To keep my budgies from hurting
    themselves I have to clip them about every other month. My albino
    Rita, Isn't a strong flyer and I only need to clip her every 3-4
    months.    
           
    As far as clipping/no-clipping there is note here that dicusses
    it extensively and I have found it twice as hard to train a non-clipped
    budgie.

    My first budgie had clipped wings when I got him.  The clip was
    "full", primaries and all.  They were cut extremely short (a real
    hack job).  That was around the beginning of December.  He now has
    primaries back and the others are about half in.  He can fly around
    pretty well, but has problems with coordinated landings.  He actually
    could still fly short distances even at the beginning....budgies
    seem to be able to fly on "stubs".

    Not all birds will get their flights back in one molt.  Some birds
    (like my Grey) may not get flight feathers until their next molt.
    This is not uncommon.

    Doug,
    
    Thanks for the info.  I just called Littleton Animal Hospital and
    they also told me that my budgie needs to go through a complete
    molt (at about 6-7 months) to get his flight feathers back, though
    his primary feathers may grow out before that.
    
    By the way, I've always been able to tame/train my budgies without
    clipping their wings.  I finger train them in their cage and don't
    let them fly out of the cage until they go on my finger readily.
     Sometimes they regress a bit once I let them fly around, but with
    persistence they go back on my finger outside of the cage as well.
     My budgies have always been incredibly tame -- I can pet them,
    kiss them, have them sit on my finger or shoulder, whatever.  And
    they are free to fly anywhere in the room.  I just don't believe
    in wing clipping for budgies.  They're most fun when they can fly
    from perch to perch (or cage to cage, as is the case in my bird
    room).  After the first couple of times out of the cage when they
    might bump into things, they're fine.  Budgies are very good flyers
    and there are no problems after the first 1 or 2 times.
    I'm just sorry it takes so long for a budgie to grow back his flight
    feathers after clipping.
    
    Sandy

    I've had my budgie with clipped wings for over 3 weeks now.  Just
    want to state in this note (can't remember which note the clipping
    vs. not clipping argument is in) that after seeing him try to fly
    and follow my other budgie around the room and just fall to the
    floor each time my opinion on this is stronger than ever:
    
    CLIPPING THE WINGS OF A BUDGIE IS CRUEL AND INHUMAN TREATMENT!
    IT'S EXTREMELY UNFAIR NOT TO ALLOW A BUDGIE TO FLY PROPERLY.  THEY
    SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO KEEP THE GIFT ALL BIRDS ARE BORN WITH; THAT'S
    WHAT MAKES BIRDS UNIQUE AND SO WONDERFUL - THEIR ABILITY TO FLY.
    
    I did not choose to have my budgie clipped.  His wings were clipped
    before I bought him.  I can't wait until his flight wings grow back.
    I want to cry every time I see his chopped up wings.  That's like
    cutting off someone's foot to me.  And the frustration he has when
    he falls to the floor each time he tries to follow my other budgie
    is awful.
    
    BUDGIES DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE THEIR WINGS CLIPPED TO BE TAMED.  THAT'S
    A COMPLETE FALLACY.  SEE MY OTHER NOTES.  My non-clipped budgies
    have all been wonderful, loving, extremely tame and friendly birds.
    And they were all allowed to fly freely in their room all day long!
    Just give them patience, love, and lots of attention.  Otherwise,
    why have a pet in the first place??
    
    Sandy
                                 

    Just in case there is a newcomer out there that is undecided about
    wether to Clip or Not they should read note 94 for a discussion from
    both sides. It has entries from both the people that care about their
    birds and us sadists that keep our prisoners wings clipped.

    in re .5
    
    I apreciate that you feel strongly on this issue, but try and
    understand that everyone does not have the same kind of bird
    housing conditions that you have.
    
    I'd like all the noters in pet_birds to be careful not to
    unnecessarily jump on other noters that have made different
    choices than they have.
    
    thanks 
    
    Bonnie J
    birds comoderator

    re .-1
    
    Thank you for your level headed reply.  I avoided this note before
    as I know I would not be able to reply in a calm fashion.
    
    Mark