Which feathers to clip on a parakeet

The feathers need to be cut equally from both sides. You can just focus on trimming from 4 — 8 feathers of your Parakeet, which are in the bottom layer from outside in the position of its wings. You should not clip the secondary feathers, which are after the 10th number of feathers. This can lead them to fly in a forward direction only and not upwards, due to which they can crash and get a very serious injury. It can be difficult for a bird owner to know when should he trim the feathers of his Parakeet.

You can try a little test that we will suggest; it may help you to know if the feathers require trimming or not. You can roost the Parakeet in your hand a couple of feet over a covered floor. Bringing down your arm abruptly, yet cautiously, will make the Parakeet fold its wings, and it will either shudder to the floor or coast smoothly away. Parakeets who can coast starting with one area then onto the next need to have the feathers cut once more.

Small or baby parakeets should figure out how to fly before their feathers are cut or trimmed so they can create their equilibrium balance and nimbleness. A good test is to have her perch on your hand a few feet above a carpeted floor. Lowering your arm suddenly, yet carefully, will cause the bird to flap her wings, and she will either flutter to the floor or glide gracefully away.

Parakeets who can glide from one location to another need to have the feathers clipped again. If it's been a while since the last time you clipped your parakeet's wings, and you can clearly see that the long primary feathers have grown back, go ahead and trim them, using the secondary feathers as a guide to how far up the primaries to clip.

Baby parakeets must learn to fly before their feathers are clipped so they can develop balance and agility. Of course, you should never clip your parakeet's wings if you don't feel confident that you'll be able to do so quickly and painlessly.

Learn how to hold the clipping shears -- never point them toward the bird's body. If you're nervous or your feathered friend is irate or squirming, consider visiting a veterinarian to observe the process by a professional first. The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.

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A veterinarian or veterinary technician should guide you through the process. Take your bird to a local avian vet and have them show you the correct clipping process.

After the initial clipping, you may be able to clip your bird's wings again. However, if you feel uncomfortable or uncertain, have a vet clip your bird's wings. It's not worth the risk of injuring your bird.

Find the right environment. To trim your bird's feathers, you need to be able to see what you're doing. You also need a quiet room to keep your bird calm. Find a room in your home that's both well-lit and quiet. This is best for your bird's safety and comfort. You do not want your bird to get out during the clipping process.

Gather your supplies. Have all your supplies ready before you begin clipping. The process will be stressful for your bird, and you do not want to prolong it by scrambling for materials. You will need the following: [3] X Research source A pair of small and sharp scissors A thick towel If possible, find someone else to assist you with the clipping process.

Restrain your bird. Birds will resist having their wings clipped. You will need to wrap your bird in the towel to keep it still during the clipping process. Do not put pressure on a bird's chest. Birds do not have diaphragms, so any pressure on the chest could prevent breathing.

If someone else is holding the bird, have that person use one hand to hold the bird's body. The person should use their other hand to gently hold the bird's head between their thumb and forefinger. This will prevent biting. Identify the primary flight feathers. It is very important you know which feathers to clip. When clipping a bird's wings, you should only clip the primary flight feathers.

Gently spread the bird's wing apart and locate these feathers.