Our pets with photos

[Emme]

Clinker has certainly grown Amy,

Shelby is beautiful johnro, lovely photo. 

Marie

[dede]

Amy clicker is a beautiful birdie, I take billy outside as he has an obsession with our chooks, I usually feed the chooks and sit billy on the grass. He has his wings clipped so he can't go far

[Amy :-)]

Thanks ladies and Den
Katie, he's very proud and very opinionated!

Mandi, Clinker's wing feathers are growing a bit so he's able to "glide" further. I don't know whether to clip them again? I think I'm scared of doing it

Robyn, love those dogs

[dede]

I need to re clip Billy's feathers soon too, might pay to clip them again soon Amy. You could always take him to the pet shop and ask them to show you how to do it for next time

[Greyhoundmum]

Hi Amy definitely a regular clipping. I used to wrap mine in a tea towel with head covered then get a second person to stretch out the wing to cut the feathers, when done regularly and quickly it is not too stressful, there is probably instruction on you tube. good luck.

[kt2]

Thanks ladies and Den
Katie, he's very proud and very opinionated!

He must be a male then Amy......! 

[Mama Fergie]

 Couldn't agree more kt2 

[Amy :-)]

 

I just gave him a small piece of bread and he's nibbled it into tiny crumbs and left it all over my desk...

[kt2]

Mmmmmm, messy too.......

[andiesenji]

There is a guy who lives not far from me who raises hawks and trains them for hunting.  He gets mesh "jackets" for his birds to keep them from flying and so their wings won't be damaged when they are being transported. 
He has some very small hawks and I am pretty sure they also make them for macaws - you might see if any bird people are familiar with these. 

[Amy :-)]

Mmmmmm, messy too.......

Just more proof that he's a boy.... or at least a child!

[kt2]

Mmmmmm, messy too.......

Just more proof that he's a boy.... or at least a child!

Exactly!! 
He'll be snoring next!

[Amy :-)]

LOL he better not!

[Delightful Den]

From my days of bird owning I was always told to only clip one wing. The reason I was given was with two wings clipped a bird can still fly they just need to work harder at it but with only one clipped they are out of balance and can't fly.

The example I was given was if you picture a plane with the wings shortened it will still fly but needs more power to do it but with one wing shortened it will crash.

I used to do what MF suggested. One person held the bird wrapped gently in a towel and the other person cutting the flight feathers.

Toe nail clipping was another task that can present challenges. You have to be careful to not cut the nails too short or they can bleed.

[dede]

DD I really think clipping both wings is a safer way to go so as the bird is less likely to hurt them self when trying to fly because of being off balance. With both wings clipped the bird can fly but only glide down, they can't fly up if the wings are cut properly.
I was taught to only cut about 5 of the flight feathers on either wing (the longest feathers).
If you handle your bird lots and play with their wings and feet it becomes quiet easy to trim wings and toes without the need of a tea towel to protect your hands from biting. (Well at least with billy he lets me do this)