Upcoming Baby?(questions)

[bird_luver24]

Well, I dont think my 9week old lovebird is going to have its wings clipped when i go pick him up. So, after reading some posts about Wing Clipping should I clip his wings? He is hand tame and is most likely going to be curious and wanting to get into everything after he gets to know us and settles in. Sooo, Aslong as he has learned how to fly is this the choice I should make?...Once I trust him and everything is bird proof in the house obviously I can always let them grow back out to see how he will react.

I myself have never owned a bird..My dad owned them but, I was younger and they always stayed in their cage. I didnt think much of it then. I just played with them through the cage wire I never knew that they could make such wonderful pets. So, this is a new experience for me and I am really nervous and want to make the best birdie mom possible.

When bringing your new birdie home. How long did you wait untill you brought him/her out of their cage? I like the fact that I am going to be bringing a 9week old baby home so, I still have time to mold him and he can develop his own personality living with me but, I know it is going to be so easy to screw up to. So, be prepared for LOTS of questions...lol..:D :rolleyes: :whistle:

Is there anything else I should be aware of with Keeping my New baby tame?...Anything helps! :)

[bellarains]

Kelly,

If your lovie is hand tame, and is not scared when you hold him the first time, hold him all you can. If he seems a bit scared, you will want to give him a couple of days to settle into his new environment before trying to handle him too much.

You don't want to make him fear you, but if he's not too scared, hold him cupped in your hands, next to your chest and talk softly to him. After a few minutes, open your hands and let him just sit with you, talking sweetly to him. They love to be talked to, and although they may not know exactly what you are saying, there's no mistaking the love in your voice, and they do pick up on that:)

All birds are different, and some bond very quickly, some take time. I have one that was a snuggle bird from the very beginning, one that took a little time(she was an older, parent raised bird), and then I have a conure that was just plain spoiled from the get go:lol

[linda040899]

Hi Kelly,
My personal preference is to do at least a mini wing clip (3-4 feathers on each wing) for safety sake in the beginning. Yes, they are very curious about new environments and it's not hard for a youngster to get into trouble very quickly. You simply want to limit flight, not eliminate it. Once your new lovie is used to living with you, they feathers can be left unclipped, if that's your choice. There are no direct exits to the outside world from my home so I feel safe having fully flighted lovies. All my larger parrots are mini clipped for safety sake. We are responsible for their care and it's a big scary world outside should they ever get beyond the walls of our homes. While it's nice to think that it's a good thing for birds to be able to fly, they are not in their natural habitats and adjustments may be necessary for their own good.

[bird_luver24]

I am going to see how he is when he gets here. The Mini Clip thing sounds like a wonderful Idea. I guess Only time with him will tell what needs to be done! :)
Thanks!

[Buy A Paper Doll]

I agree with Linda. Have the baby's wings clipped.

I had a horrifying experience this past weekend where one of my lovies was outside (and shouldn't have been) and something spooked her. She took off flying. Even with clipped wings, all it took was a very slight breeze and she was able to fly 60 feet, probably more. I found her standing in a wooded area behind my neighbor's yard, too scared to move. I had to run like mad to get to her before anything else (cat, hawk, etc) did. Keep in mind, I am extremely safety-conscious with my birds. I do not take them outside, ever, unless they are in their cage. Someone else in my house did without my knowledge. If my little lovebird could make it 60 feet with 8 flights clipped on each side, you can imagine what a disaster it would have been had she been fully flighted.

[bird_luver24]

Jennifer, Sounds like a horrible and very worrying experience. :(
I do think the Mini Clip sounds like a good idea though. If it isnt enough then I can always do more feathers.

[Buy A Paper Doll]

Yes, start with the mini clip as it will most likely be enough for him when he is a baby. As he grows older and stronger, you may need to have an additional flight or two clipped. My little hen is a very strong flier, that's why she has 8 flights clipped on each side. I would definitely NOT start with 8!

[Janie]

Kelly, doesn't your breeder know how to do a wing clip? :confused: My breeder clipped both of mine the day I picked them up, right before I took them home. Because they were both very tame (hand fed and socialized) I did handle them often from the first day. If my breeder had not clipped them, I would have had them clipped at their first vet appointment which was 2 days after I got them. Personally, I am not comfortable attempting a wing clip by myself.

[linda040899]

If the breeder is willing to clip the flight feathers, ask her to wait until you come to pick up your baby. Tell her that all you want her to do is clip the outside 4 primary flights and watch her do it! Do not assume that she knows what you want or will do what you want if you are not there!!! There are many, many variations of wing clipping and some people actually believe that only the feathers on one wing need to be clipped! Wrong!!! Ditto if you have your avian vet do the wing clip. Again, you want the first 4 primaries on both wings clipped and nothing more! A bad wing clip will grow back but it can take up to 6 months.........

[bird_luver24]

I didnt know the wings should be clipped this young. I will definately ask my breeder about it tonight. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. :)

[kimsbirds]

Kelly,
Babies raised in our home are left fully flighted until the age of approx 10 weeks in order to strengthen and build muscle and to gain mobility and range in flight. Rarely do I have to clip a strong flying baby before this age. Once baby is ready to leave, they get a partial clip (first 4-5 flights on EACH wing) and while they don't get the lift they're used to, they certainly can still get distance and a nice soft gradual landing.
Good Luck with yours !
Kimmie

[Janie]

Kelly,
Babies raised in our home are left fully flighted until the age of approx 10 weeks in order to strengthen and build muscle and to gain mobility and range in flight. Rarely do I have to clip a strong flying baby before this age. Once baby is ready to leave, they get a partial clip (first 4-5 flights on EACH wing) and while they don't get the lift they're used to, they certainly can still get distance and a nice soft gradual landing.
Good Luck with yours !
Kimmie

Ditto! My birds got their first clip, right before my eyes, on the day I picked them up. They had been flying well for a couple of weeks before that. They were 9 1/2 weeks old.

[bird_luver24]

He Just emailed me and said they are clipped. :)
He didnt say how many feathers or anything but, he said they come clipped for their safety.

[linda040899]

Kelly,
OK, depending on what kind of clip and how many feathers, if it's not exactly what you want, the feathers will grow back in when the first molt starts at around age 4 months.