Wing Clipping

Clipping the wings is a painless process and, in fact, a temporary one because the flight feathers will grow back with each successive molt. The objective of wing-clipping is to limit a bird's ability to generate upward lift but retain the ability to glide downward to prevent injury from a fall.

• Larger parrots typically require fewer feathers to be clipped.
• Smaller birds have greater lift and need more feathers clipped.
• Clip primary feathers on BOTH wings.
• Primary coverts, secondary feathers and secondary coverts are not clipped.
• Clip both wings to give bird proper balance.
• Restrain head, both feet and the opposite wing.
• Be careful NOT to restrict chest.
• Hold wing at base of humerus.
• Clip first four or five primaries at the base of the shaft, below feathered area.
• Can leave the first two primaries for aesthetics and clip an additional primary.
• Do not clip feathers with blood shaft.