How to Trim the Wings on a Parrot

A parrot's wings should be clipped for the safety of the bird. Many birds with flight-ready wings have simply flown away when the opportunity arises. If not recaptured, the parrot will perish if this happens in a cold region of the country. No one wants a cherished and expensive pet to fly the coop. Eliminate this chance by trimming the bird's flight feathers. Many owners take care of this task themselves, along with the help of a friend.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Towel
• Gloves

Instructions

1. Decide if your assistant will wear gloves or use the towel to hold your bird. Drape the towel over the bird's back and with one hand gently grasp the back of the head while restraining the legs and supporting the body with the other hand.

2. 

   The trimmer can now extend the wing by grasping the front of the wing at the joint. Use high quality scissors to cut the primary flight feathers a safe distance from the coverts. For a larger bird, trim at least the 3 outer primary flight feathers. The number to trim can vary so observe how your bird does and adjust accordingly. See Illustration Step 2.

3. Repeat for the opposite wing if needed. Trimming just one wing will work for many birds and owners, while others want both wings trimmed. Be calm and gentle with your parrot as birds can get stressed easily.

4. Many birds can be trained to allow their wings to be trimmed without restraint. Keep an eye on the parrot and keep him in a safe area until he learns that he cannot fly. Trim the wings as needed when the feathers get long enough for flight.

Tips & Warnings

• If during the trimming the bird becomes distressed, stop and wait until the bird calms down.

• This is also a good time to trim the parrot's toenails if needed.

• This illustration is not meant to be exact. The intent is give you an idea of where to trim.

• Be cautious when handling the bird to avoid injuring the bird or yourself. Parrots have extremely powerful beaks and can easily cause injury to humans.

• If after reading this "how to" you do not feel comfortable attempting to trim your parrot's wings, let your veterinarian do the trimming for you.