Ok...I have clipped my conures wings and she can't fly when I do. I tried clipping my quakers and I thought I did a good job. he was really well behaved when I did it. But He can still fly just fine. Do quakers fly better than other birds? When I clip my conure, she tries and usually goes to the ground. I thought I did it short enough on my quaker but now I'm wondering if I'm doing it right.

If you clip them correctly and not too drastic, they should be able to glide to the floor, not crash land. Have you clipped before? did an avian vet show you how? They can hurt their keel bone if they crash land.
Maybe someone will come along with a picture..I am still too chicken to clip Gabby's wings myself...

Rebecca

I've done it before with my conure. It went just fine but I clipped my quaker yesterday and it seems like I didn't do anything.
I was confident with my conure that we have been outside. I'm not taking my quaker out any time soon.

I have two quakers and when we clip them exactly the same, one can still glide almost flying, and the other one drops like a rock. I think it depends on the bird to some extent as well. It seems one just has better "flying" muscles etc. It does definitely depend on how you clip them too and how far back. But like I said we do both of ours the same and there is a small difference in the result.

I think it is individual differences with how well they can fly when clipped, although my vet told me that Quakers are particualrly good at flying when clipped. We clipped just about all of Gabe's primaries and she still flew laps around our (really large) kitchen. Hence- I gave up.

Keith describe how you clip your birds...

There are two different types of wing clipping that are done. One is done by pulling out the wing, and snipping the primarys with scissors. Many get by with this method, but the "half-feathers" that remain can create problems. One is some birds worry over the cut ends as they some times can rub thier sides when tucked in, or over preen and worry over these cut ends (potentially starting a feather chewing/plucking habit).

The other method used, you take each feather one at a time, leaving the cut end sandwiched between the upper and under coverts. This is the one I prefer. Click Here !! for a good article on this method

Quakers are very accomplished flyers. They tend to need their wings clipped more severly than other birds. Mine got away from me outside last year after being clipped by the vet. Thankfully we found him... but he got pretty darn far. I had to take him back for a more severe clipping. I swear I still don't know how he accomplished that feat with what little wing feathers he had left. Now he is checked by letting him go before we leave the vets office. If he just flutters to the floor... he's good to go. If he gets any height... he gets clipped more severly.

I have to agree with Marylee. My Kiwi is the same way........

Gee, after reading that article, I really like that method.

I should find out if this is the way they cut at the club. I'd much prefer it to the other standard type cut. Raven worried at his poor feathers non-stop when I first got him. I was forever having to put cornstarch on one feather or another.

Thank goodness the breeder I got Yogi from knew how to do wings properly.

Thanks for that link. Definitely going to check into that.

Deb

You guys are braver than me. I go get Brady's done..along with his talons trimmed. The new mini-macaw I'm getting hasnt had his wings clipped. Guess where he's going when he gets home with me? Question though...should I let him adapt for a a few days then take him to be clipped or perhaps longer. I don't want to add more stress to him.

Can they clip them before you bring him home? That's what I would do.

I agree with this. The cut ends of the feathers may feel sharp to the touch. Try rubbling the cut end of a feather against your hand to see what I mean.

The second method is also my preferred method. I find that using a suture type scissors helps to cut the primaries under the coverts without accidentally cutting the coverts.

Yea that's a good idea. I'm not sure why they haven't clipped em. Couldn't hurt to ask though.