Is wing clipping really cruel?

[bridgetchicken]

If a bird owner wants to tame a parrot by clipping their wings, is that considered cruelty? Or is it not cruelty? What are your opinions?

 

[sourland]

I guess it's a personal choice. To me, removing the flying ability of a bird is crippling it from its natural ability.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Not really, since you're also making it less likely for the bird to get itself in trouble

 

[Summer_]

I’d say it isn’t really cruel. Usually it’s helping the animal, so it wouldn’t be considered cruel. If you think it’s removing the animals natural ability, I understand. I, however, will say that if the animal is domesticated, it’s not in it’s natural habitat, or it isn’t finding its natural food. Many people have different opinions on this, but whatever works best for everyone is good

 

[FunClucks]

If you're clipping its wings, you'd better be planning to make up for it. What I mean is, if you're clipping so it won't fly away, or over a fence, then you should arrange a lot of safe exercise for it, and also keep it safe from predators, because you'd be removing its ability to exercise (its wings) and fly away from predators. You'd be taking those responsibilities on yourself instead of leaving them with the bird. But if they're pets or livestock, those are pretty much your responsibilities anyway, so I guess it depends on individual management style and personal choice.

 

[ButtonHoarder]

I don’t think wing clipping is good, especially if you’re just doing it to tame the bird, it can actually make some birds harder to tame because they know they can’t escape as good

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It's only cruel if done improperly. Remove too much wing and birds are more prone to leg injuries as they drop like rocks.

Fully flighted house birds can escape and fly away. They often starve to death outside unfortunately. They also can fly into windows and walls indoors hard enough to break their neck.

If done correctly the birds can float to the ground if necessary and are easier to catch again.

To me wing clipping is done for the safety of the bird.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Cruel is an extreme, it's not exactly "nice," or even remotely natural for the bird. My opinion is that it's just not ever necessary. Have the appropriate Set up instead.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Clipping wings wont make taming easier just makes them have to depend on you

 

[Dynasty and Delta]

Depends on the bird. If its waterfowl or ground birds its not cruel and the bird shouldn't mind too much since most of them are domesticand have limited flight abilities,or don't fly a whole bunch naturally. But, birds such as parrots and pigeons I would only clip their wings if necessary(if the bird is injured, sick,disabled, or is prone to escaping) because in nature these birds fly several times a day and is more ingrained in their instincts than waterfowl and ground birds. I wouldn't consider it cruel if you did clip a parrot or pigeons wing just unethical if you aren't clipping for any reasons listed above.