Need advise with clipping my Muscovies wings for the first time

[Bleenie]

When I HAVE to clip(i don't like to), I only clip one side. I really don't like the way it looks when both wings are cut, they look so stumpy

. My rescue girls came to me like that last Christmas and they Finally just molted out and grew in their full wings, i was SO happy to see them looking 'normal'.

I've never had one hurt themself, usually after you clip their wing they cant jump on anything dangerously high... unless of course they climb stuff like stairs, lol. If you do go ahead and clip both sides, i think you will be much happier(and them too) if you do a beauty clip on both sides. They will have a few feathers left to preen but they will be useless as far as flying goes. When you do clip their wings make Sure that you've got sharp scissors or it's going to be a real pain. and for the beauty clip just skip the first 2-3 feathers at the tip of the wing. it gives the illusion of them still having wings(when their 'closed'), they still get to preen their wings but they just can't fly.

 

[jessylee]

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I agree I dont WANT to clip I just live right in town and I don't think my neighbors would appreciate my ducks in there gardens. They usually only fly around when they are feeling frisky, but I don't want them to be able to leave the yard when they feel naughty. When I get a place out side the city I wont clip. I agree it looks better natural, that is why I was thinking a light clip, I like your idea with skipping the first 4 of so long feathers as a compromise while they are young and "flighty". Do your older birds fly for fun or is that a young bird thing? Why did you clip Bombay?

 

[Bleenie]

Oh I didn't clip Bombay, I just marked his wing to show you where to clip the girls

. My older girls really don't fly much at all, every once in a while they will get a little crazy and "run-fly" across the field to the creek but that's about it. The young girls though (your girls sisters) will fly over the coop and down to land in the creek. I love watching them but if they were closer to the neighbors I would definitely have to clip!

 

[jessylee]

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Aww thanks for marking his beautiful wing just for me! Hope it is not permanent! I figured you clipped him hehehe,
I agree it is so cool to watch them fly, good to know they mellow out as they get older! Muscovies are so silly!