Questions on Parakeets

Question
Hi Jennifer.


Your comment,


"I recommend letting Angelina's wings grow back and not clipping them again. She is frustrated and depressed, especially with Clarabell being able to fly. Apart from that, birds are just as used to flying as we are to walking and taking away their ability to fly makes them feel insecure and defenseless, which might me one reason for Angelina's agressiveness.
I'm strongly opposed to wing clipping. It's equal to chaining up a dog with a very short leash and then taking it for five minute walks every now and then. I know many birds in the US are clipped, but I still think it's wrong (especially for parrots who enjoy flying so much).I hope you don't mind me saying this!"


Not at all. However, I learned that Angelina has been more receptive when she had her wings clipped as opposed to being unclipped. But in Clarabell's case I think it best to leave her wings unclipped.


Have you hear of other parakeet owners with positive experiences which involved their parakeets having their wings clipped?


best regards,

Julian

Answer
Hi Julian,
I'm in Germany and here are only very few people who clip the wings of their birds. It's generally thought that birds should be allowed to fly. Apart from that, often unclipped birds can at least flutter, though not really fly, and this can cause accidents because the flight is not controlled by the bird.
Of course clipped birds are depended on their owner to get around and so they may get tame faster than unclipped birds, but that's more or less only positive for the owner, but not for the bird.
I have often read that bigger parrots get depressed when their wings are clipped, especially if another parrot that's able to fly is kept in the same household.
Have a nice weekend!
Jennifer