Deciding to clip the wings of your cockatiels can be a personal decision. There are many good reasons to do it, but there are also many reasons why it can be avoided.
If you care about your cockatiels and want to keep them safe, clipping their wings is generally a good idea. Your cockatiels will be safer from certain things because clipping limits vertical and horizontal flight. In addition, clipping will not hurt or cause any pain to your bird. The process will be easier with two people, but it can also be accomplished by yourself.
Some owners often stress the importance of clipping their cockatiel’s wings, while others will say it’s inhumane or even cruel.
In reality, it’s a short process that most experienced avian veterinarians can perform in just a few minutes.
If you’re still on the fence about clipping your cockatiel’s wings, keep reading to find the most appropriate option for your bird.
Should You Clip A Cockatiel’s Wings?
It can be a dilemma for most cockatiel owners whether to clip or not your bird’s wings.
You don’t need to unless your cockatiels get into trouble by flying off. In that case, clipping the wings can keep them safe.
The idea behind clipping your cockatiel’s wings is that it prevents your birds from being able to get lifted when trying to fly.
Contrary to what some people may believe, clipping a cockatiel’s wings does not cause pain or discomfort.
However, there’s still a long-running debate regarding this issue. Unfortunately, this often leads to some confusion amongst new bird owners.
Benefits Of Clipping Your Cockatiel’s Wings
The main reason owners choose to clip their cockatiel’s wings is to prevent them from flying away.
If you care about your birds and want to keep them safe, clipping their wings is generally a good idea.
Once your cockatiels have their wings clipped, they will no longer be able to fly around at 100%. Yet, they will still be able to glide in the air for short distances, but they won’t be capable of taking flight.
With that said, you should only clip their wings if you are fully committed to raising them. Clipping a cockatiel’s wings and then sending them off to live elsewhere will place more stress and emotional strain on the bird.
When Should I Clip My Cockatiel’s Wings?
It would help if you only had to do the clipping once per year or after each molt.
Sometimes, the clipped feathers do not fall out well during the molt, so watch for that.
How Should I Clip My Cockatiels Wings? (The Process)
There are several methods you can use to clip your cockatiel’s wings. However, not all of them are effective when it comes to preventing your bird from flying.
The main aim of clipping your cockatiel’s wings is to trim down only the fine feathers required to ensure that your bird will not be able to lift itself and start flying.
However, you must be careful during the process. For example, you would not want your cockatiel’s wings to be trimmed so much that they will fall to the ground.
The good trimming process will help your cockatiel safely glide to the floor.
To stop your bird from flying high, you must only trim your cockatiel’s primary feathers. Trimming only five primary feathers is enough to stop your cockatiel from flying.
Trimming more than that, or going into the secondary feathers, is unnecessary and could cause problems for your cockatiel.
Furthermore, you must never go for the inner feathers. Trimming the inner feathers will just annoy your bird and make them uncomfortable.
Never cut below the level of the primary covert feathers, the shorter and smaller feathers you can see overlying the primary feathers, close to their attachment to the bone, or on the inside of the extended wings.
Besides this, you should do the lower third to half of the primary feather, but no more.
If you try to trim more than this, the length will start to get too close to the nerve endings of the feather and can make the bird uncomfortable. It is unnecessary to cut that low to get the bird not to fly.
Do Clipped Wings Grow Back?
A cockatiel’s wings do grow back. In most cases, you will start noticing the new growth in 3-4 months. However, sometimes, it may even take as long as six months. The rate of increase varies for every bird.
If the wings of your cockatiel wings have received extensive damage, then there are high chances that the torn nail will only partially return. In addition, there are chances that it may not return ever as well.
How Long Does It Take For Clipped Wings To Grow Back For Cockatiels?
A torn cockatiel wing will grow back ultimately, but it’s not a quick process. You’ll have to wait for about six months for this to happen.
In about six months, your cockatiel’s wings will fully grow back.
Do Cockatiels Get Sad When You Clip Their Wings?
There are chances that your cockatiel might get depressed if you clip their wings.
There have been cases where cockatiels are known to get obese, depressed, and scared of everything when their wings are clipped off.
Although wing clipping does not take away your cockatiel’s ability to fly completely, it will still make them sad. Your bird will still glide from one spot to another.
Does Clipping Hurt?
Most cockatiel owners are under the assumption that clipping their bird’s wings causes extreme pain and discomfort. However, the truth is that when the wings are correctly clipped, your cockatiel won’t even be able to feel it.
Any experienced bird owner will agree that wing-clipping is a painless process that may prove to save your cockatiel’s life one day.
Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t hurt, so there’s no need to worry about injuring your cockatiel during the process. Just take them to a professional vet to have the procedure down in a professional setting.
How Much Does It Cost To Clip A Cockatiels Wings?
The average cost to get your cockatiel’s wings clipped should be between 10$-20$. However, the price may vary from vet to vet.
The cost mainly depends on the area or state you live in and the availability of the service.
You can negotiate with the clinic to settle for a low pay per visit if you plan to get your cockatiel’s wing clipping done from the same place every time.
