My Kakariki had his wings clipped before I got him and a few of those cut feathers have fallen out leaving him unable to fly from the ground. He can get around the aviary fine as most perches are tree branches stuck in the ground but there is no way he can get to the nesting box (not a real problem) and when he comes inside he walks everywhere as he just can't gain the height to fly.
How long will it take for the flight feathers to grow back and how long 'til all the cut feathers fall out and new ones grow back? Are we talking a season (12months) or longer?
I have never cut a birds feathers, even our house parrots.
It is my understanding, that only a few should be cut on one side, not to stop flight but stop accessive flight.
Kakariki due to their high activity leaves, shount not have wings clipped, this is know to cause ovewr weight and heath issues
Subject dealt with here along time ago.
As far as how long...I dont know but it would not be a yr, maybe a month or so???
Drop the nesting box down so he can jump in. _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
Over weight Kakariki..... Interesting I wouldn't think they stay still long enough to ever become overweight. They are eating and pooping machines. My pair come into the house and wonder around checking out everything to make sure nothing has changed. They pay special attention to anything that has moved or is different. This morning I hadn't made my bed before they came inside and they explored it for at least 20min and then went back to the aviary to eat. Normally they go straight for my office play on my computer and poop on my chair then off to the kitchen to polish off any toast etc they can find.
I removed the nesting box yesterday as it required cleaning (the hen sleeps on top of it) and haven't put it back yet. I will do as you suggest.
I will report back when he gains flight again for future reference.
The place I got him from had clipped both wings and quiet servilely but he was still able to fly with a lot of effort. Over the last three weeks or so he has been gradually loosing the odd feather and over the last week has found it hard to get off the ground. Everything else appears normal just he has less half feathers than he did when I got him.
Hopefully in a few more weeks he will be accessing the higher perches where I know he would like to go as he sits as high as he can and looks at his Hen sitting up there.
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 10:45 pm Post subject: Featherless Kaks
I do clip my Kaks wings , more so the males than females. It gives the hen a slight advantage when dealing with a over amourous cock bird . I learned thru my vet and experience that the number of feathers taken varies with the breeder and/or vet here. Many take about 8 (or more ) from each wing which leaves the poor bird flightless, and subject to falling injuries. I have reduced the number to between 4 and 5 from each wing dependant on the bird. It is entirely an individual acessment. I want the bird to fly, but with some effort. That reduces the distance they can go, but still allows them to cushion their fall from ceiling level. I start with 4 off each wing, and if flight is still too much, then I take one more etc. As far as replacement, Since a bird molts twice a year ( 3x in it's first year ), it should theoretically only take up to 6 months for the feather to be replaced through natural processes, but this is not always the case. Apparently not all feathers are necessarily changed during the molt, so it may take up to a year for the feather to be replaced. If a faster replacement is required, extraction of the entire feather shaft is required. In this case, the replacement will begin to grow almost immediately. I must remind those who read this, please have someone who knows, show you how to do it. If you cut the feather too short, or it is a new "blood feather" ( that is a new, growing feather which has blood in it ), if it is cut improperly it can cause the bird to bleed out and die very quickly as in a few moments. It acts just like there were a straw in their vein. ( happened to one of my budgies, long ago )
Hope this helps
Cheers!
Wolf
It is entirely an individual acessment. I want the bird to fly, but with some effort.......
I must remind those who read this, please have someone who knows, show you how to do it.
That is NOT think they know but who DOES know.
I have seen birds cliped by 'experianced' ppl over many yrs, and only once seen a bird cliped as described above that I had no real concerns about....
It is because of all the 'butcher jobs' and the fact I am NOT knowledgeable on the subject, I do not recomend nor do to our birds. _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
I think it is the same as having children, and cutting off their legs at the knees.
Birds need to fly, why make it so they cant??
exactly
Done correct As Wic above, does...they still fly, not flap around, restrict flight, not stop
Quote:
If its because you are scared they may escape, keep your windows and doors closed.
And if your pets have time outside, either leg chain on larger parrots, or cage, in many positions, there get familar with the imdeiate land marks
If they do 'escape' they dont panic and get lost
Placing their cage outside, eventually they go back to their 'home' _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
Well its been about 5 weeks since Ricky lost all ability to take off from a low altitude. He has always been able to get to the ground safely after climbing high he just couldn't gain altitude when flying (eg fly from the ground to a bench). However, for the last three of four days he has been able to get some height. He is back to making his way to the top of the kitchen cupboards (2m up) so I guess in another few weeks he will be back to flying as well as he could before the Pet Shop clipped his wings
So to answer my own question I would say about 3 months is required for a Kakariki to regain some flight ability after being over clipped.
Great information to know. I have many parrots - not just kaks, some I clip for safely reason - I was taught how by an avian vet. The rule with other parrots is like another member suggested - 3 or 4 on BOTH sides them more if needed. Never ever trim the secondaries. (smaller, shorter feathers on top layer of the wings.)
The reason for both wings is to allow a controlled flight or glide down. By trimming only one wing you cause the bird to fall without control. This is worse than a severe clipping because it makes them off balanced and un able to fly straight. Clips of one wing only can easily lead to broken wings and other major injuries.
My cockatiels and most of my other birds are un-clipped. My kak will remain un clipped.
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and a few of those cut feathers have fallen out leaving him unable to fly from the ground. He can get around the aviary fine as most perches are tree branches stuck in the ground but there is no way he can get to the nesting box (not a real problem) and when he comes inside he walks everywhere as he just can't gain the height to fly.
I wouldn't think they stay still long enough to ever become overweight. They are eating and pooping machines. My pair come into the house and wonder around checking out everything to make sure nothing has changed. They pay special attention to anything that has moved or is different. This morning I hadn't made my bed before they came inside and they explored it for at least 20min and then went back to the aviary to eat. Normally they go straight for my office play on my computer and poop on my chair 
then off to the kitchen to polish off any toast etc they can find.
, more so the males than females. It gives the hen a slight advantage when dealing with a over amourous cock bird 
. I learned thru my vet and experience that the number of feathers taken varies with the breeder and/or vet here. Many take about 8 (or more ) from each wing which leaves the poor bird flightless, and subject to falling injuries. I have reduced the number to between 4 and 5 from each wing dependant on the bird. It is entirely an individual acessment. I want the bird to fly, but with some effort. That reduces the distance they can go, but still allows them to cushion their fall from ceiling level. I start with 4 off each wing, and if flight is still too much, then I take one more etc. As far as replacement, Since a bird molts twice a year ( 3x in it's first year ), it should theoretically only take up to 6 months for the feather to be replaced through natural processes, but this is not always the case. Apparently not all feathers are necessarily changed during the molt, so it may take up to a year for the feather to be replaced. If a faster replacement is required, extraction of the entire feather shaft is required. In this case, the replacement will begin to grow almost immediately. I must remind those who read this, please have someone who knows, show you how to do it. If you cut the feather too short, or it is a new "blood feather" ( that is a new, growing feather which has blood in it ), if it is cut improperly it can cause the bird to bleed out and die very quickly as in a few moments. It acts just like there were a straw in their vein. ( happened to one of my budgies, long ago )
