I have always found this soo cruel, I know that it doesn't physically hurt the bird but I think that birds are meant to be free or I don't know. What do you think?
I'm not a big fan of keeping birds as pets for that exact reason, but when it comes to keeping existing pets safe, I think a little bit of annoyance on the bird's behalf for 10 minutes it's worth it for their long term safety. Like getting a microchip for a dog, I guess. If my dad's galah got out and flew away, she'd probably die because she wouldn't know how to find food, or she'd get hit by a car. However, she's very tame, and isn't bothed by being fed sunflower or apple seeds while her wings are being clipped, so it doesn't make me feel too guilty.
I'm not a big fan of keeping birds as pets for that exact reason, but when it comes to keeping existing pets safe, I think a little bit of annoyance on the bird's behalf for 10 minutes it's worth it for their long term safety. Like getting a microchip for a dog, I guess. If my dad's galah got out and flew away, she'd probably die because she wouldn't know how to find food, or she'd get hit by a car. However, she's very tame, and isn't bothed by being fed sunflower or apple seeds while her wings are being clipped, so it doesn't make me feel too guilty.
Sorry, but I don't think that birds should be kept as pets or domesticated at all. There's nothing wrong with looking at wild birds fly around outside and eat nectar from trees. Clipping their wings is cruel, no matter if you feel guilty or not. People only clip birds' wings so they can't fly and it is only done for the human's convenience. Therefore there is absolutely no reason to clip bird's wings.
we had to clip our chooks wings because they are freaks of nature and figured out how to fly!!!
but other than that, it really depends on the situation...
I completely agree with you. I think that clipping bird wings is similar to decalwing cats (only without the life time of horrific pain and diability). It denies the bird his right to act naturally, how can a bird function like a bird should if he can't fly?
Birds are designed to fly it's a natural and instinctive behaviour that should be considered as a good thing, not a bad thing. I don't believe bird owners have the right to clip a bird's wings, it's convenient for the owner, but it's not fair on the bird to take away what comes to him naturally. That's my opinion, anyway...
clipping an indoor birds wings is done as a safety thing, I have heard so many horror stories about birds getting hit by fans it's unbelievable, and I have no worries about doing it to birds who are companion animals inside.
In saying this, none of my indoor birds ever wanted to fly, they were too demanding and lazy, and we had ladders all throughout the house so they could go wherever they wanted.
it doesn't hurt them if it's done properly.
Would you prefer a bird with trimmed flight feathers, or a bloody fan mess all through one of your rooms due to negligence?
i would only ever clip a birds wings in the interest of their safety, we used to have birds but i wouldn't keep them anymore - with the exception of chickens because they're not kept shut in a cage their whole lives they get to roam and do what they want
I have considered clipping Billie but when I think about it it's for me rather than him (2mths old and has just learnt to fly and thinks it is the BEST thing ever!), and once I'm in my new house he and Georgie will have their new kick ass enclosure and will be able to fly to their own content... mind you Georgie isn't a fan of flying, when she's out she just hides under the couch lol... and we all know Winnie's sad story so he's not a problem.
But I'm with Bek on this one, birds + fans/hot stove tops/open doors = bad.
I'm not a big fan of keeping birds as pets for that exact reason, but when it comes to keeping existing pets safe, I think a little bit of annoyance on the bird's behalf for 10 minutes it's worth it for their long term safety. Like getting a microchip for a dog, I guess. If my dad's galah got out and flew away, she'd probably die because she wouldn't know how to find food, or she'd get hit by a car. However, she's very tame, and isn't bothed by being fed sunflower or apple seeds while her wings are being clipped, so it doesn't make me feel too guilty.
Sorry, but I don't think that birds should be kept as pets or domesticated at all. There's nothing wrong with looking at wild birds fly around outside and eat nectar from trees. Clipping their wings is cruel, no matter if you feel guilty or not. People only clip birds' wings so they can't fly and it is only done for the human's convenience. Therefore there is absolutely no reason to clip bird's wings.
As I said .. it's my dad's bird, and I'm not a fan of keeping pet birds for the exact reason the OP posted. So what I was saying was in regards to an existing pet which isn't mine, I had no say in the purchase of her. With this particular bird (as I pointed out, isn't my pet), her are are clipped so she doesn't fly away herself or injure on fans or stoves like someone else mentioned, she'd surely die if she got away.
As I said I'm not a fan of keeping birds, but I'm not going to go releasing someone else's bird just because I disagree with the practice of keeping birds, she'd surely die, considering he's had her for 21 years and she has no idea how to look after herself. I think that be a lot crueler of me.
We clip one of our chooks wings , one is enough to put them off balance if they try to fly too high.
They can still fly over small fences (not that chooks can really fly well anyway) but it keeps them safe from flying into the neighbours yards over the 6ft fence & get mauled by not so chook friendly dogs. They've got plenty of trees, gardens, trees, dirt etc to explore though & don't tend to stray anyway.
