What are people's opinions on pinioning? I just hatched my first duck today and (hopefully) have two more on the way. I'm planning on taking them to an avian vet in the next week or two, just for a check-up and to have them sexed. I'm wondering if I should also have them pinioned as well. It's certainly not something I would ever attempt myself because I'd be terrified of causing pain and damage, but I assume a professional could do it very well.
Initially I was planning on keeping these ducks (call ducks) mainly free range in a large yard on a lake, in which case their wings would be left intact. But that housing situation didn't work out, and it now looks like we'll be moving to the city, probably Los Angeles. Of course I'll keep the ducks in a secure and predator-proof pen, but if they were to get loose and fly away in such a big city, I'm pretty sure they'd never make it back.
By no means do I want to cause pain to my little babies, but it's important to me to be confident that they're unable to fly. Should I have the vet pinion them, or is pinioning frowned upon?
Initially I was planning on keeping these ducks (call ducks) mainly free range in a large yard on a lake, in which case their wings would be left intact. But that housing situation didn't work out, and it now looks like we'll be moving to the city, probably Los Angeles. Of course I'll keep the ducks in a secure and predator-proof pen, but if they were to get loose and fly away in such a big city, I'm pretty sure they'd never make it back.
By no means do I want to cause pain to my little babies, but it's important to me to be confident that they're unable to fly. Should I have the vet pinion them, or is pinioning frowned upon?