Good morning sweet friends! My Ruby fell again yesterday, it wasn't far- off her tree stand - she just went plop. She had this pitiful look on her face and thought BIRDS SHOULDN'T FALL! Anyway, I would love some advice on letting her wings grow in.
Thanks, Jessalyn

Jessalyn, I had that happen shortly after I got Kady. I'm not sure what happened but I think he wanted to come to me and didn't realize he couldn't. He hit the floor straight down and hard. So I know that look you're referring too. But then again, I had a look also and it was panic because I was so worried he hurt himself.

Ruby may have too many flight feathers clipped and that's why she fell. I don't have any experience with clipping flight feathers, so I can't give a suggestion as to how many should be clipped on a Scarlet to still allow them to fly (glide) down safely.

When my two molted out their flight feathers I didn't clip the new ones as they came in. But with the decision to not do that came the responsibility to see to it that they are safe and secure at all times and supervised at all times.

No outside time without being secured. No open doors, windows, toilets, no access to the kitchen when there is a hot oven or boiling pots, no ceiling fans turned on, no sharp knives in the sink strainer.

We have several members here that have flighted birds and the list of benefits, cautions and responsibilities that I started will grow as they offer advice so you can make your decision.

Oh Jess, such a complex topic! All my birds are flighted, and I am convinced this is right for them, and for me. I can't say it has always been easy, and at times its been downright scary to have them flighted. You have to be prepared for some mishaps as the wings grow in, particularly if Ruby never had the chance to fledge properly, or if its been a long time since she was flighted. It isn't easy for them to learn to maneuver and land successfully, and some birds pick it up faster than others. There may be some spectacular crashes, and you must do everything possible to make your home "flight friendly". Remember, she will have total access to everything, and it is up to you to keep her safe. There are windows to run into. Outside doors to escape through. Burn and scald dangers in the kitchen, and any number of hazards throughout the house. You will have to be even more vigilant than you already are.

The reward you get will be seeing the excitement and absolute joy in her eyes as she starts to get the hang of it. Her personality will blossom with confidence as she gains a measure of independence. This will also be a challenge for you, since she will be able to assert her moods, rather than being forced to acquiesce to your will. When she assents to be with you, you will know that it is because she truly wants to be there, and not only because she has no choice.

Allowing them flight is a heavy responsibility for you to bear, since there is always the chance of disaster. On the other hand, the same can be said of keeping them un-flighted. You are trading one set of responsibilities and dangers for another. I will promise you this though; it will change your lives and your relationship, enabling them both to grow and develop in ways we can't always predict, but at least in my case, ways that I have not had occasion to regret.

My birds are much smaller than Ruby when it comes to size, but they are all flighted. It has been such a learning experience (two of them came home to me clipped and one was already flighted but didn't know how to fly!). After seeing my guys learn how to fly once their wings grew in, it has changed my thinking regarding birds. Just seeing their confidence has made it all worth it - both Lulu and Winston had such low confidence prior to being proficient fliers.

But as Nate said, with flight comes responsibilities. But honestly having flighted birds has made me so much more aware of the environment and aware of everything when they are out and flying around (my 3 little ones zooming around is a bit like an air fighter show every night ).

Regarding birds falling - I do believe that having their flight feathers should eliminate falling. Lulu has never been the most coordinated thing, bless her heart, but now if she stumbles when trying to climb, her wings save her beautifully.

Great advice folks!!! Glad to see the responsibilities being covered as well as the joys of them being flighted.That was my first thought...to try and find out about the clip.
Normally what is done on a full sized macaw is to clip the first five flight feathers on each side just below the primary coverts. That will allow them to glide down gracefully.

All my birds were fully flighted up until about a month or so ago when I clipped all of them because of an incident that occurred here. The clipping is just a temporary thing and their flight feathers will be allowed to grow back out. We needed some down time to put a security barrier in place around the outside cages.

To clip or not to clip is a personal decision based on many factors. The bird, their environment and situation along with what is safe.
My personal choice is to have them flighted.

I can't add much here, since although Maple is technically fully flighted she doesn't fly, but I can add that watching them learn is painful!!! Harley is learning to fly at the moment. He loves it, takes him a few minutes to get up the nerve to go, and sometimes he does great...and others (like last night) he crash landed into the coffee table! He doesn't have all his flight feathers yet, but a few are in. Anyway, my point being....everyone is right, it can be heart breaking to watch them crash and burn, but when they get it right...WOW!! The look in his eyes is soooo worth it!

Peanut is flighted and recall trained, for him is was a sort of good choice to let his wings grow. I am pleased with the result but not so much my children since he bites them more now. He is an eagle attack bird defending his mom. Rules are really simple touch the bird at your own risk while he is on my shoulder.

I am intending to let Pinky's wings grow since she is not doing well without flight. She is harness trained so it should not present much problem to go out. She leaves the harness alone unlike Peanut. Her feet are much improved but they are not good enough to step up boldly on to finger which causes her to be nervous and bite. She does not bite if offered a palm.

The other pet sunnies for the time being will remain clipped.

The only advice is to love her better when she crashes, flying is a skill that is painful to learn the first time and even more so the second time. Currently I have babies learning to fly.

Eve is full flighted, and while everybody is correct about the responsibility that come with that decision, I feel that it it is very important to teach flight commands in order to have a flighted parrot. Not just for escape reasons, but to teach your bird where and where not to land and what not to destroy, and to keep the "I'm flighted therefore you must obey me" syndrome that sometimes come with a flighted parrot in the house. Eve lands only on birdie approved spots, I still have all my molding and chair legs, my mail is in tacked, my pens all still write, the muffins stay on the counter untouched by beak marks. Eve steps up when asked and on general is a well behaved bird. But it takes having play stands that are more entertaining than the house, and multiple stands for landing around he house, so that the option to land else where becomes less of a temptation. And of course flight commands to keep that bond from becoming unruly and start a new type of bond and communication. One that comes with flight.It's like allowing your kids to drive your car, you need to be able to trust them to make good decisions while driving, same with a bird. You need to trust them to make good choices while flying around and having that freedom. But those choice need to be taught. Otherwise you leave it all up to the birds discretion, not a good thing. This is Eve's main stand that keeps him from wanting to mes with other things in the house, he will on his own acord spend 90% of his time here, simple becuase it is more entertianing than enything in the house.

Thank you for the guideline James.

I know Kady would not have fallen like a rock had all his flights not been clipped so severely. Also he had many other feathers that were damaged and missing, which didn't help. He was very cautious for a long time after that fall.

He doesn't fly now but he does get around much better since his flights have grown in. I've noticed he shows a lot more confidence which may be in part to him having all his flight feathers and knowing he has some control to help himself.

You all are great! Thanks so much for taking the time. I will re-read these and think on these things. Ruby says thanks also!