Please don't clip us.
I see lots of questions about clipped or flighted. This can be a heated discussion. I do not wish to be upsetting but to have some reflection on the topic.
Part of me wonders why anyone gets into birds if they want them clipped. I wanted a bird but my husband's main concern was to have them with some sort of life as a bird. If they aren't tame then offer them an aviary is how I would treat it.
Luckily Budgies are pretty easy to tame - even the hard cases like my Rio have a pesky enough nature to want to be your friend, just no hands-on stuff
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Dangers: We have an apartment with a balcony. Luckily the layout allows us to have the back rooms for the birds to fly in & leaves the dangerous rooms Budgie free [kitchen & balcony]. The darkness of the long hallway is their only barrier. Maybe 3x's a year they might try the flight to the kitchen. Because of this we always are careful before opening the balcony - always use the screen & always look before opening the door.
Toxic Houseplants & safe woods: All common questions. I can add another - Varnish or Shellac are not good food groups - so be aware what your Budgie is chewing.
When I hear about birds hitting a wall & getting hurt or breaking their necks I think they were frightened. So I say wait until your bird is relaxed with you , can step up with enthusiasm , comes over to chat. Take them around on your finger or in their cage to see every aspect of their space. I tap surfaces that might be doubtful. They are very observant & in time will know all the angles in the room.
When confronted with a mirror my birds know there is an issue , they fly in front [hovering] while trying to figure out what's a reflection & what's real.
When you let your bird out for the first time - relax & sit down [please]. Perhaps put the cage on a table or bed. Offer other places [gym/play stand] the cage top for them to land on. Stay seated. Read, listen to music. Don't have a time limit - for the first while they can take unknown amounts of time to be re-caged. Some birds learn quickly & some are slower.
If you lose patience - leave the room. Or read. They will either go to their cage on their own or they will start to wonder what you are up to. A single Budgie does not like to be alone & if they have a nice cage it will be a haven. Keep food &water in or on their cage - that helps us & them.
A bird that doesn't fly [caged all its life, always clipped before or very young] will be weak & long controlled flight will take months to attain. Panting is normal. Clumsiness is normal. In the end they are amazing fliers.
Sure they miscalculate from time to time -ever have a Budgie hit you in the face or the body? it happens but they recover & fly off. This happens when your walking around so sitting down is a good way to be when working with your Budgie - or not walking!
Part of me wonders why anyone gets into birds if they want them clipped. I wanted a bird but my husband's main concern was to have them with some sort of life as a bird. If they aren't tame then offer them an aviary is how I would treat it.
Luckily Budgies are pretty easy to tame - even the hard cases like my Rio have a pesky enough nature to want to be your friend, just no hands-on stuff
.Dangers: We have an apartment with a balcony. Luckily the layout allows us to have the back rooms for the birds to fly in & leaves the dangerous rooms Budgie free [kitchen & balcony]. The darkness of the long hallway is their only barrier. Maybe 3x's a year they might try the flight to the kitchen. Because of this we always are careful before opening the balcony - always use the screen & always look before opening the door.
Toxic Houseplants & safe woods: All common questions. I can add another - Varnish or Shellac are not good food groups - so be aware what your Budgie is chewing.
When I hear about birds hitting a wall & getting hurt or breaking their necks I think they were frightened. So I say wait until your bird is relaxed with you , can step up with enthusiasm , comes over to chat. Take them around on your finger or in their cage to see every aspect of their space. I tap surfaces that might be doubtful. They are very observant & in time will know all the angles in the room.
When confronted with a mirror my birds know there is an issue , they fly in front [hovering] while trying to figure out what's a reflection & what's real.
When you let your bird out for the first time - relax & sit down [please]. Perhaps put the cage on a table or bed. Offer other places [gym/play stand] the cage top for them to land on. Stay seated. Read, listen to music. Don't have a time limit - for the first while they can take unknown amounts of time to be re-caged. Some birds learn quickly & some are slower.
If you lose patience - leave the room. Or read. They will either go to their cage on their own or they will start to wonder what you are up to. A single Budgie does not like to be alone & if they have a nice cage it will be a haven. Keep food &water in or on their cage - that helps us & them.
A bird that doesn't fly [caged all its life, always clipped before or very young] will be weak & long controlled flight will take months to attain. Panting is normal. Clumsiness is normal. In the end they are amazing fliers.
Sure they miscalculate from time to time -ever have a Budgie hit you in the face or the body? it happens but they recover & fly off. This happens when your walking around so sitting down is a good way to be when working with your Budgie - or not walking!
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Jac, Budgies: Rio & Bow
Jac, Budgies: Rio & Bow
Many thanks to Jacqueline Crawley.for sharing this article with us.