How to clip a bird's wings

How to clip your birds wings. It does not hurt and they grow back. Reccomended during the training process.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Bird
• Light Towel
• Sissors
• QuikStop/Corn Starch/Flour

1. If you are unsure it is best to get an avian vet, breeder, groomer, or another experienced person to do this. Bird clubs sometimes do this for free or a small price.
2. Blood Feathers Ok, if you have decided to clip them yourself, the first thing you need to do is check for blood feathers. These are new feathers growing in, and if broken, they will bleed and the bird, if its small, can bleed to death if the feather is not plucked. Check the wings for this. The feather will have a waxy keratin sheath on it, and it will look like it is wrapped in a straw.
3. Once you have checked for blood feathers, gently restrain your bird in a towel. Make sure your bird's head is sticking out, and you are not squeezing him so he can breath.
4. Gently pull one of his wings out. Clip only the long primary flight feathers on the wing. DO NOT trim it too short! Don't clip all the feathers along the wing. Please leave the short secondary flight feathers. Leave the blood feathers if there are any.
5. Repeat this on the other wing. Remember only clip the long feathers. If you clip the secondaries your parrot will crash painfully to the ground. You want him to at least flutter.
6. Your birds wings should be all clipped. Put him back in the cage and give him a treat.

Tips & Warnings

• Always restrain him in the towel
• Don't clip the short secondary flight feathers.
• Never clip blood feathers. If you do, dip the feather in quikstop/corn starch/flour. If it continues bleeding, pull it out with needlenose pliers.