I know this is a heated topic, anfd I'm not looking to start a debate. All of my fids are fully flighted, but my new baby amazon who is almost 2 months old has started to take leaps out of my hands and I'm worried she'll hurt herself. Does anyone think its a good Idea to clip as a baby while training and while they grow back, earn her trust and love and then let her stay flighted? and also, when do you guys think would be a good time to get her used to a harness?

Please allow her to fully fledge before clipping. It's one of the most important things for parrots. Yes, it's scary to see them learn to fly, but it's essential that they learn before being clipped. Like a toddler, they will have crashes and moments where you just have to hold your breath...but it's part of the learning curve.

Close the curtains or put decals on windows or mirrors. Take her to a smaller room where she can't pick up as much speed when practicing her flights. Don't clip until she has mastered curves and downward flying.

Some articles:
Abundant Weaning & Fledging

The True Nature of Parrots (about half-way down):

Now, now, now!! LOL! But seriously- as soon as possible. I've seen parrots not even fully feathered already wearing harnesses. Starting them early is almost always the only way you're going to get them to wear one without fussing.

same as what Camille said, please allow her to fledge first before you clip her. From things I have heard others say, it seems to be harder for them to 'learn' to fly once they are older if they are not allowed to fledge properly.
I think it would be great to get her used to being in a harness at a young age, a man I know who breeds black cockatoos starts getting them harness trained before they are weaned and has great results with his birds.

I'm not a huge fan of clipping before a bird is fully fledged. Our Scarlet was clipped from the breeder and re-clipped at the bird shop we purchased him from. After his flight feathers grew in, and he discovered his ability to fly he actually had a hard time. All of the sudden he realized he was flighted, and would just take off and didn't know how to stop. The result was a chipped beak, and black eye.

When a bird is young and still growing they are discovering there wings and learning to use them as the flight feather grow. I think clipping them before they are fully fledged teaches them to not rely on ther wings, and once they grow out they all the sudden discover this amazing ability to fly. Its like putting a new driver in the seat of a race car and saying OK how fast can you get around this track. The likely hood of a major accident is higher than someone with prior driving experience.

Seymour must have been fledged and clipped later. (Not sure, we are his second home.) I think this because we let his clipped flight feathers molt and regrow and when they did he had no problem navigating our home.

As for the Harness, the younger you start training with them the better. I really suggest the Aviator Harness, it comes with a wonderful DVD that is very informative, and explains the process on how to introduce both younger and older birds to a harness.

Absolutely let your baby fledge and become proficient before you clip her. And when you do clip do it gradually, one feather every few days until you get just to thepoint that she can float to the ground. They are birds and birds need to fly! It builds their confidence. I understand the clipping after they fledge but I feel it is important that they get to be fully feathered (birds fly and should be allowed to!) But definately don't clip untill she learns if you are going to!

As far as the harness goes, the aviator is the BEST. My einstein was patterned to the harness from the age of 6 weeks and he is so easy to work with. No problem, and he even helps get it on! And off when it is time!

Jennifer

There's no reason to clip her and a zillion reasons why not to. Just dont have her anywhere where she's going to bang into walls or fall. Keep her on the bed especially now she has to bond to her cage, the room, the house. Leaping onto a bed from a bed won't hurt her. She's in a panic being in totally new surroundings having lost whatever family she knew. Also it takes months to "learn" to fly properly. Just give her time and protect her meanwhile.

I agree should you decide to clip her, do it after she has fledged.