First wing clipping

[Emery]

I did my first wing clip today, on Amaretto! I'm a little shaking, because I was really nervous. I didn't want to hurt her and even though I knew what I was doing, it's different on an actual bird. >o Anyway, I changed clothes and put on gloves when I did it, so she wouldn't know it was me. I must say...I didn't do a great job, but it's not horrible either. I was going to wait until she was finger tame before I did it, but I decided to do it when I had the time. After I finished, she seemed a little shaken up (:( ) and clung to a towel (I was in the bathroom). I left and changed really fast and came back, so that she would think I was "rescuing" her from this evil wing-clipper. :D Now she's sitting on my head and she hasn't moved since. I've never had a bird on my head before. :)

[graushill]

I think you're very brave :). I've never gotten the courage to wing clip myself, but I wish I did. Maybe a little millet will help Amaretto feel more like his usual self ;).

Gloria

[butterfly1061]

I clip all 4 of mine when needed. It can be a little un-nerving at times, but he will become more dependent on you and that mya make training a bit easier. And the head thing? Try having 4 lovies wanting on top of your head - all the time :p Good thing I live alone and no one can see me :lol

[Janie]

I'm with Gloria.....I think you are very brave!!!! Holy Moly, I've done a feather or two on mine and they are all tame. More than a feather or two, no way! I'm a big chicken about those wing clips! :D

[Emery]

Haha, me, brave? Nooo. I just really wanted her to come out of the cage without her flying to the top of a bookcase. Plus, I contacted a Vets office near me and it was more than I wanted to pay for just a wing clip, plus I figured I should learn if I plan to have her for her life.

I just put her in her cage (after some difficulty). She'd been sitting on my head, preening my hair for 3 and half hours. I bet I have the cleanest hair now. :D

[butterfly1061]

Well, I must say, if she has preened you for that long, she REALLY likes you :D They are just too cute when they're young. My Olivia will still preen, but the others don't anymore. I miss it.

[Elle]

Haha, me, brave? Nooo. I just really wanted her to come out of the cage without her flying to the top of a bookcase. Plus, I contacted a Vets office near me and it was more than I wanted to pay for just a wing clip, plus I figured I should learn if I plan to have her for her life.

I just put her in her cage (after some difficulty). She'd been sitting on my head, preening my hair for 3 and half hours. I bet I have the cleanest hair now. :D

Sheesh! If I had known I would certainly would have offered to help you. I'm just on the other side of the bridge anyways :) All I charge coffee :whistle:
There are a couple of vets around halifax. You may want to shop around as well. I hear both are great, one is less expensive then the other one.
As far as the wing clip, congratulations! I do mine as well and I call it attitude ajustement. It's amazing what difference it will make with your bird's behavior towards you.

While Amaretto is on you, try moving her to the shoulder instead of the head. Like that you may have a better chance to interact with her. I usually use toothpicks. I roll them between my lips and all of my birds have fallen for that trick:lol

Hope all goes well from here,

[BarbieH]

Well done! The first time is always the hardest. Over time you'll learn little tips and tricks that will make it easier on you and your bird.

My hubby and I clipped two birds today, George and Gracie, in another attempt to get them to stop nesting again. (It's too soon after the last one.) We changed their cages, moved around toys, moved around cage locations, but nothing seemed to work until they got their wings clipped. It finally got them off the bottom of the cage.

[Emery]

Sheesh! If I had known I would certainly would have offered to help you. I'm just on the other side of the bridge anyways :) All I charge coffee :whistle:
There are a couple of vets around halifax. You may want to shop around as well. I hear both are great, one is less expensive then the other one.
As far as the wing clip, congratulations! I do mine as well and I call it attitude ajustement. It's amazing what difference it will make with your bird's behavior towards you.

While Amaretto is on you, try moving her to the shoulder instead of the head. Like that you may have a better chance to interact with her. I usually use toothpicks. I roll them between my lips and all of my birds have fallen for that trick:lol

Hope all goes well from here,

I researched one vet - Parrots to Ferrets in Clayton Park (I think). That's the only one I knew about. I asked about prices and their DNA sexing was $75.80, which I wanted to do, but I'd rather that money go to other, more important things. Wing clipping was between $13-22 dollars, depending on the size of bird. :roll:

I tried today to move her to my shoulder, but she won't have that! Haha! She doesn't like my fingers/hands either, so that makes it hard. But I'm workin' on it! :D

[Angelwing]

Congrats on the wingclip. I only clip my very laid back birds by myself, otherwise I get someone to help me.

Try getting Amaretto to sit on your arm or shoulder, as opposed to your head. When she is 'above' you, she may start thinking that she's higher up in the flock, having control over you. We know that she probably does, but you don't want her knowing that! It's possible problems can arise because of it. Plus, it can be hard to clean poopies in your hair.

[LauraO]

Congrats on the wing clipping:D . It can be a very nerve wracking experience if your not used to doing it. I've actually become the designated wing clipper in this house as my husband gives complete wing clips and we have too many birds to get it done professionally. I've become more and more comfortable with the whole process as I know most of my birds enough to know how many wings need to be clipped and why they should or should not be clipped.

Now nail clipping is out of the question>o >o