An infected wound after crashing to the floor over and over due to a poor wing clip.

Wing Clipping - An Opinionated View - by Dr Phil

1. Most pet birds will benefit from a light wing trim
2. A light wing trim helps enormously with initial training.
3. A wing clip is NOT usually done to stop a bird from flying. (just uses more energy flying - like using weights in a gym!)
4. A wing clip does not guarantee that your bird will not fly away.
5. There are pros and cons to wing clipping.
6. Trim Both wings equally

Wing clipping is NOT generic. Each wing clip procedure is different - done for a particular species and then for a particular bird depending on his/her weight, agility, living conditions (Melbourne Bird Vet):

Benefits of a light wing clip:

• Reduces the risk of injury as the bird flies more slowly
• Enabling birds to play more safely outside of their cage
• Reduces the risk of escape (e.g. by flying quickly through an open door)
• Reduces aggression

Injuries from repeated falling resulting in damaged chests, and cuts near the vent and damaged "souls". It breaks the birds emotionally.

• Broken bones.
• Phobias and feather damaging behaviour.
• Inability to escape predator attacks

If done before a bird first learns to fly, some birds will not be able to fly later in life. Wing clipping is not a procedure to be taken lightly, we see serious problems associated with poor wing clips on a regular basis. Because of concerns about welfare issues associated with these risks, in Victoria, there are regulations that make it illegal to clip a bird's wings except under the guidance of a veterinarian. We do not advise inexperienced owners to attempt wing clipping on their own.

Dr Phil at Melbourne Bird Vet keeps a feather bank and can implant new feathers on a bird that has had a severe wing clip. The bird will usually be able to fly after the procedure. The procedure is inexpensive and helps a lot in treating birds that have had horrible severe wing clips fly again and regain confidence.

Bird Specialist Vet Opinion

"In trying to decide whether wing clipping may be appropriate in a particular instance, the first question to be asked is why clip wings on this bird at this time and what style clip is likely to achieve the desired outcome?" If wing clipping is decided upon, the style of wing clip recommended will depend on the size, weight and athletic ability of the individual bird as well as what an owner hopes to achieve by wing clipping. There is not a single generic style that is suitable for all situations. The avian veterinarians at Melbourne Bird Clinic generally try to do a wing clip consistent with achieving the desired outcome. We clip feathers symmetrically on both wings. Which feathers are clipped and how much is removed will vary from bird to bird.

How Do I Clip My Bird's Wings?

We strongly recommend having wing clipping performed by an experienced avian veterinarian. At Bird Vet Melbourne, we assess each bird individually and use techniques appropriate for the species, size, and temperament. Contact us to book a wing clipping appointment.