Many bird owners are not aware what wing-clipping really involves, especially when it comes to why it is done, when to do it and how it should be done, according to James Blanshard, principal veterinary surgeon and co-founder of Zodiac Pet and Exotic Hospital.
"The aim is not to stop flight completely as some may think but, instead, to control it safely," Blanshard says. The clipping of wings reduces the altitude of flight and the distance a pet can fly, and is performed so that the bird cannot escape or come to harm, he adds.
"Should a bird escape, for example, from an apartment balcony, the bird with clipped wings cannot fly for long distances or achieve great height, but it can come back down to the ground in a controlled way without injury," says Blanshard.
The procedure usually takes one of two forms, the vet says. The first is called the "show clip" - the first three or four of the primary feathers (the first 10 feathers starting from the tip of the wing) are left in place and the remaining six to seven are clipped.
The clip is performed through the shaft of the feather (calamus) near its base, not through the coloured vane. If attempting to do this, an owner should be careful not to clip a "blood" (growing) feather as this can be catastrophic, Blanshard says.
"In my opinion, the show clip is the least effective in terms of controlling flight as the first few primaries are responsible for the bird attaining maximum lift in flight. It is, however, the most popular with clients as when the wing is closed it looks 'normal', not clipped."