Possible controversial topic, but wondering...

[missevie]

What is everyones view on pinioning? Clipping the tip of the wing when the chick is a day or so old. I have never done this, but am wondering what you all think about it ( I should get bonus points for avoiding saying yall since I am from Texas).http://mdkauctions.hypermart.net/pinion.html

That link is for a pinion site for ducks, but you get the idea. I know most of you already know what I am talking about. This is based on a conversation I was having earlier today and I said most people would agree with me. So I am wanting to hear/read everyones opinions and/or experiences with it. Pro or con? For or against? Everything

 

[Choctaw Valley Farm]

I would NEVER clip a peafowls wing, if they free range they will not be able to fly to get away from predators.

Steve

 

[Turkeyrangler]

NO, They need to be able to what peafowl do. They need to evade predators and fly up at night. Would never think of pinioning my birds even if they were all cooped up. For the winter and breeding they are cooped most of the time. Otherwise they will free range.

 

[Kev]

It's generally a con for peafowl mainly because they jump VERY well even with wings clipped. A clipped peacock still can jump 6 feet very easily. So the typical perimeter or pen fence will not contain clipped or pinioned peafowl very well especially if fence is 5 foot or less- might as well not have the fence at all.. plus once outside the perimeter, they are much more vulnerable to dogs/predators etc. A non-pinioned or clipped peafowl still has some chance of escaping and getting back in the yard. Much better than a pinioned/clipped one at least.

Peafowl also are curious about new things, so if they see a strange dog or predator, sometimes their reaction is to raise alarm and then walk towards it(actually a common reaction in prey animals- you can see antelopes or deer sending out alarm calls and following a lion or tiger). So if a pinioned peacock walks towards a strange dog and the dog is a chaser/killer, then that peacock doesn't have a chance at all.

Pinioning can work well for ducks mainly they don't jump fences too well(compared to peafowl) and so are much easier to contain. Probably a necessity for some species if they are strongly migratory or have high tendency to move/roam far around.

If the peafowl are to stay in a covered aviary, it becomes rather unnecessary.

Situations where pinioning peafowl could be a pro: can think of only one so far- perimeter with 8+ foot fence(and it is not wood or brick either), not covered with netting, bird getting out at all not desired/safe for the bird.

 

[vebyrd36]

Well some people may think it is necessary and others may not. I have very expensive swans and cranes thus mine are Pinioned. I received mine from the breeder this way. It is up to the individual the pros and cons have to be weighed. My peafowl are wing clipped but I also have 15 foot fences with electric on the top and bottom on the outside to keep animals out. Considering I raise some very expensive breeds many people who buy the birds wants them pinioned. I hope this helps.

 

[missevie]

It did help. Thank you all for responding. The reason I asked, my mother and I were talking about it today. I have an 8ft fence, 9g chainlink. My yard is large and I have 2 geese and 3 ducks pecking around it now.Also a silkie rooster that was to loud for my mom to keep at her place,a goat and a doberman (he is great with the birds). The subject came up randomly and she said she is completely for it if I was to left the peacocks lose in the yard. I told her that while I think it is a very valid idea, I am not so sure about the public views on it. I did not want to be ostracized in the peafowl community for doing something that they might deem to be terrible or just plain cruel. I would only be doing it to 3-4 chicks that I plan to let free range in the yard, while keeping my others intact in the pen. In doing so, I also hope to eventually be able to free range my 1 yr old male with the grounded birds. I live in a pretty wooded area, but all the trees have branches at least 10 ft from the ground. That is why I was not totally against it. My geese pretty much keep everything out that the Doberman doesnt.lol.

Nothing is set in stone, it is only an idea that was passed around.

 

[deerman]

Never with peafowl, at most they could be clipped, I wouldn't myself.

peafowl can't fly like a swan, cranes , wild geese or ducks. Can see a reason to pinion those. Have you ever seen a flock of peafowl flying overhead........I have the others.

 

[missevie]

not a flock but when my 3 yr old male got out he flew a couple hundred feet before landing. He was a good 30 ft up too. then when my female got out she flew about 100 feet to a tree above power lines

 

[deerman]

yes they fly well, like some chicken and turkey, but people don't pinion them either.My game chicken if free range will out fly my peafowl, and roost 20ft in a tree.

Birds that are pinion are to keep them from leaving the area,.......like flying south.

I do know some clip the wing ,untill they break them to free range.

Sure it could be done, buy like Kev said bet they could still clear a 6 ft fence. To test that just clip the outer flight feathers. Then you could see how a pinion bird would be able to get around.

Not trying to be a smart a** , just the type of birds that are pinion.......

 

[missevie]

Oh I know you aren't, and I really appreciate your input and expertise, honestly. I am still very undecided about it. I am not one of the PETA nuts, but I am what one would call an animal activist to the SANE extent. To much of a meat eater to be a real activist.lol. I just dont like the idea of cutting the wings anyways. I know its only cartilage and there will be little if any blood. Blood does not bother me, it's the thought of inflicting unnecessary pain. I have thought about maybe just the birds in the pen would be enough to bring them back if they ever got spooked. When I first built it, I put really bad netting on it and a yearling got out along with 2 guineas. Next day I found one dead guinea and the peacock was back in the pen. The other guinea was pacing bac and forth the fence line on the other side.lol. So I am hoping that those birds might be enough to draw them back. Also the same way I got my female back. She came back after a month of being gone. My green male, I found him wondering down the street about 3 wks after he had gotten out. The green in him made him wonder off but still stayed relatively close.