| You should clip his wings shorter. If they are clipped the right
length, then Rosie should not be able to fly at all, but instead
flutter to the ground. Did you also clip his secondary feathers on
his wings (the smaller ones that are closer to the body). Those need
to be trimmed short as well.
Don't cut his tail feathers. There is no need to. It isn't your
bird's strength that is keeping him airborne - its his wings. I cut
my birds feathers upside down (My husband holds him and spreads his
wings - I then clip him with the underside showing so that I won't
cut a blood feather. It works quite well.
Best of luck!
Denise B.
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| I have to disagree with the previous noter, having seen the dangerous side
of this look that some like in the birds. Tiels especially are subject
to thrashing at the slightest provocation, especially at night when
disturbed by unusual noises, light, or motion. The outer two primaries
can get caught in swings, toys, perches, and cage wires and snap the
wing bones or break blood feathers, if the primaries are still growing
out to full length. Also, the tiels fly wonderfully well with these
extra feathers to help them, so are more subject to escape or generally
getting themselves in trouble if they are intentionallly or unintentially
flying free. My vets and their vet techs will not guarantee the safety
of birds that they clip if the owner insists on leaving the outer two
primaries, again especially on tiels (Littleton Animal Hospital,
Littleton, Massachusetts).
A clean trim of all the primaries give the 'chevron' look when the birds
wings are extended and a smooth line to the body when at rest. I encourage
you to not leave the outer two primaries on any of your birds that you trim.
Linda
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