Hello,

 

I have read article on this site Budgie FAQ and of course did not come up with an idea :) :(

should I clip or not the wings.

I will have a baby of about 6-7 weeks. He is handfed (on the picture he is not scared of the owner)

We have window door and usually open it very often to go to the backyard. I have kids that can easily forget it So I think I will be permanently nervous and checking it.

But in other hand, it is a pity to see a bird that can't fly:(

 

thank you for all your help on this matter

My birds are not clipped but when I got them the pet shop had clipped them. One of them fell very hard like a rock to the bottom of the cage. I had to temporarily put him in a cage that was not very deep for fear he might hurt himself. Some birds have had sever injuries to the chest by falling in this manner. It took forever for him to grow wings. In the meanwhile every thump to the bottom of the cage made me jump with panic and go check him.

 

My birds had one clutch and the babies were clipped when they went to their new homes but in a manner that only stopped them from flying up to the curtains. They will not be re clipped in their homes. Apparently this was helpful because at least one baby got loose in between the box and his new cage. Unable to get height she was still a challenge to catch apparently. She is doing fine now and is tamed.

 

Clipping is a touchy subject for some people. I have cats so my birds life, if ever they get loose depends on it. I thought my birds would naturally fear cats but they actually were mesmerized by them at first. Charlie got loose and wanted to go flirt with the cat once and he got out of the bird room but quickly flew away from the cat with rude manners. He landed directly in front of me on the curtains and to my surprise just let me swoop him up and protect him. It was a good thing he was fully winged and I can see why they can out fly hawks. Needless to say Charlie does not like my cat anymore. He also warns the others when she comes into the room, who still seem mesmerized by her obvious charms.

 

If your bird makes it past the door when the children forget it he may run into a cat. My babies went into homes where they had bird rooms. In the end you have to weigh the pros and cons and make a call.

 

The blue siamese is the ones the birds like. They go to the bottom of the cage and socialize with her through the bars.

I think it is a personal choice. Maybe you can leave pet in cage, while kids are in and out and only take it out when its "birdy time" when kids play with bird and stay inside while it is out of cage. Or only have bird free in one room with door closed so it can't escape while it's out of it's cage.

I find clipping them only makes them depend on you. Once the flights grow back they can get away. I don't clip mine as they are meant to fly.

I have clipped in the beginning, but will not do it again when flights grows back. In any case if he doesn't want to stay on your finger he is flying or jumping away. But then he is going to jump and jump on the floor... It is a little bit sad to watch him jumping instead of flying. And I have noticed that he doesn't enjoy off cage time