My husabnd (Denis) and i took Harrison to the vet for her 6 month check up. Her health is fine...I brought up the biting and the first thing she asked me was "is she flighted?" I told her that she is flighted and seems to love to fly around the house. She said that birds that can fly often times have biting/aggression issues. Denis and I discussed before the visit whether or not to clip her wings. He is totally against it...he doesn't want to take it away from her because she seems to just love it. I'm not sure how I feel about it. I'm afraid she's going to get out one of these days and get lost. That's my biggest fear. And now that the vet said that flighted birds have behavior problems, it makes me want to do it even more. But, I really don't want to take it away from her. The vet said the reason flighted birds have trouble is because they're showing their independence. I'm not really sure I understand the whole thing, but if it would help her from biting and getting so pissed off, I want to clip. Has anyone else heard about the "being flighted and biting" theory? The vet also said it could be hormones and her age (2.5 years old). She suggested we go to this bird workshop going on in a week or so....It talks about clicker training, nutrition, behavior problems (I've heard you can solve the biting issue with clicker training)...?? Does anyone here do the clicker training? Is Harrison too old to teach that stuff to? I know I typed a lot .. I hope it all made sense...what are your thoughts on this stuff?

Thank you!!

Heather

Hi there! Yes, I have heard that theory too. In my experience with my Grey, and a pionus, it was true. I would prefer my birds be flighted, I would prefer my birds to live in the wild, but for me it just isn't practical. In fact, that is how I lost my pionus, Max. We had a new puppy and I let her wings grow in. My husband was bringing her inside one day from her outside cage, and she flew from him and I never saw her again. She just wasn't comfortable with him, and got scared. He was just trying to help me. So I hope this helps some. It's just my opinion. Lots of folks think you should never clip. I believe it is a personal decision.

Clipping some birds calms them down..not all birds. I am not a fan of clipping any of my birds, IMO I feel that it like taking away our arms or one of our senses. And I for one would not want to lose my arms or abilites to smell or see. So I keep all of my guys flighted,I did how ever have the recent experience of one of my flighted birds flying ut the door and into a tree. I did get her back but it was the scariest moment of my life watching her fly above all of the houses and knowing that I could not reach her. Now I am just 200 % more careful, its like an OCD-checking that all doors and windows are locked and that the sign is on the front and back doors stating the the birds are out and not to enter, before I let my guys fly around the house. I have also made several copies of my "birdie binder" with all of my birds info, and given it to several people in the event one of my guys is lost or stolen. Good luck at your birdie workshop !! 10 of my birds are flight & hand signal trained, never tried the clicker though.

I have clipped and flighted, I also have no opinion either way, it is a choice. Clipping does subdue some behaviors, this part of what the vet says is true. Sometimes clipping is so bad that they resort to biting and other neurosis because of the clip. Any type of training or tricks, will help Harrison as I think a lot of her biting is the entertainment factor. It really depends on the bird and the situation to decide if clipping is the answer or not. If Harrison is trying kamikaze attack parrot and biting on the wing then clipping is a definite choice. Clipping is also a good idea if open doors or windows can't be controlled, better safe than sorry. Pinky my sun with not so good feet bites when she is clipped most probably because she is scared. On the whole clipped birds probably have more behavior problems than flighted. Clipping a grey wrong also leads to plucking. A lot that needs to be thought because a clip may last a year. Feathers do grow back if the choice does not work out.

I agree with what Angie said.

My own husband would be horrified as he has the same belief as yours. So that can be a family problem of big importance.

I have read a bit on a Grey's natural transfer of 'fav' person - at around 2 yrs old, due to fledging issues & maturity that is hard wired. Is this what is happening here? Is Harrison pushing you away? Was Harrison hand reared or parent raised? - Did you read Shanlung's recent thread? - it touches on this a lot. Getting a very young bird or a hand fed bird?

I would really look into training more. The activity is fun for the human as well as the critter. For us, it got everyone involved, which was an added bonus. We had fun together & the bird was more social. All fun is looked forward to & is a positive [i know that statement is obvious - sorry]. On animal/bird training, I've read training using positive reinforcement has long term benefits.

It still boils down to what you will do. Some try everything & see the results. But sometimes you know in your heart what is best.

I have always kept flighted birds. But it is a choice, and a lot depends on what you are able to handle. Keeping a flighted bird is a big responsibility. Besides watching out for door and windows, you need to flight train your bird. A lot of flight training helps with that independence/flight/bite issues. I not a fan of forcing a bird to be dependant on me because it can not fly. And there are just as many behavioral issues keeping a clipped bird than there is a flighted one. The bad behaviors are just different that's all. The bite factor still happens but instead of biting because independence from flight, and hormons, you have biting from fear. A prey animal with wings that can not use them is a dead bird in the wild. So you deal with screaming for attention or to be moved from one spot to the other, biting to let you know they are scared or because they don't want to be picked up. The issues are still their but the triggers are different. And for me it is a matter of which ones do I prefer to handle, and which one can I work around. For me it is flight training, and flying. And to me the health benefits far out way the risks. Flighted birds are healthier, stronger, and mentally and emotional happier. But I would never recommend keeping a flighted bird if your house and life style can not handle it. It really is a matter of the bird, and how good you are at handling behaviors, and training. ANd clipped birds are not miserable, but it will take more from you to keep them entertained and happy. Me personally....I like an independent bird, who does not scream for my attention and can safely go about their own business. But that means I have a play stand in each room, or other birdie approved landing spots. Lots of foraging toys, baskets to investigate.....If you have a flighted bird and don't provide multiple places for landing you can not get angry at the missing molding. (a bored bird is a destructive and sometimes aggressive bird)

But it is funny that this topic comes up, since I just had to clip my bird for attacking a household member. The hormons became too much, for the other person, and it was safer all around. But I know that in a month or two when those wings grow in and the hormons are gone their will be no more issues.

Heather, I don't think Harrison is too old to teach. I am a believer that you do need to teach if you're going to live in close contact with a flighted bird. As long as you use positive reinforcement, you will not only teach her but it also will be an excellent healthy bonding experience while keeping her mind active.

I don't know if I agree that a flighted bird shows their independence as much as I believe it makes them confident and secure. The need to work in harmony with them is greater as is the need to always be in tune with their body language and mood.

I can't speak beyond my experience about the 'biting/flighted' theory as to whether there's any merit to it, but in my experience, I think not. I have two fully flighted mature Green Wings. One is capable of flight, one is not. I can read them like a book and I do. I evaluate every feather, their mood, their eyes, their body posture, etc. What I see determines how quickly I proceed in asking them to interact with me. In the 3 years they have been with me I could count on one hand the number of times I've received a very small bite that may have broken the skin a bit. Those minor bites I've gotten, I can tell you without a doubt, each and every one was because of my error, not theirs.

I would attend the bird workshop and try some of the things you learn...then clip if need be.

Karen stated everything that I was going to state. Even when 2 of my birds were clipped I would pay super close attention to their body language (and I know, most of you are laughing since I have 3 very small birds). And now, I am not the one who gets bitten in my household. It's when others choose to ignore the warning signs and the body language that they get get bitten. Yes, being flighted means there is a great sense of confidence, but I also believe that that extra confidence can and should be redirected into training and something constructive. I'm reading too often these days of people who are suddenly clipping their flighted birds. Most of these people have not (in my opinion, of course) begun any sort of training.

But again, even if my birds were clipped I would be paying attention to the most subtle of signs that the bird is trying to convey. The signs are there and most of the time people choose to ignore those signs.

All of our birds are flighted and a couple of them exhibit independence especially during hormonal times. We are very careful to let these birds be as quiet as possible and not disrupt their lives during their tempermental days. They can become independent when flighted, but how you manage their independence is important. They can enjoy their ability to fly and still enjoy interaction with you if you do positive reinforcement.

We observe their behavior and are constantly flexible in our lives accomodating their needs. As Karen said, it is so important to be knowledgeable about their every move and anticipate their moods. Training is very helpful for the parronts of flighted birds.