Tying Wings instead of clipping them

[srodems]

Does anyone out there have an idea or way of tying wings instead of clipping them. I have one California Grey who is very sweet, and very flighty. She flies into my garden and right now is eating my tomatoes. I would like to tie her wings for the next few months while the tomatoes are coming ripe, but then release her wings so she can have her personality back. My husband and I don't want her to lose her fun flighty quality, but I didn't do all that work in the garden so she could eat my 28 varieties of heirloom tomatoes....no way!

My husband says his mom used to tie their wings when he was a kid.

Any advice appreciated.

 

[Pyxis]

As in tie their wings up or to their body? That seems cruel to me. Any way you're going to tie them she won't be able to stretch them, flap them, sun bathe, dust bathe properly, or pretty much move them at all. Clipping them is much nicer. If you want them to grow back quickly, you could pluck the first couple of feathers on each wing, and then they'll start growing back in almost immediately. But really, clipping is better than tying, and she'll get her flying ability back the next time she molts. Either that or cover the garden or her run with bird netting to keep her out.

 

[srodems]

Not to her body, to themselves. Bundle them up and tie them. I think this used to be done regularly. Wondered if people do this still.

 

[Pyxis]

I don't think it's done, mostly because it seems cruel. Think if someone tied your arms up together so you couldn't use them at all for a few months and couldn't stretch them out. That's what it would be like for her. Clipping would definitely be preferable. That way she still has full use of her wings, and isn't able to get to your tomatoes. They usually molt in the fall anyway, which is coming up in about two months, so she'll probably have her molt and get her flight abilities back before winter.

 

[chiques chicks]

Clipping doesn't keep them from flying, it keeps them from flying far. They can still fly short distance, for instance, up to a roost. Clipping properly causes no pain and they still behave normally.

 

[srodems]

I think we have decided to clip one of her wings and see how that goes. Her sister who is very much like her but older was flighty when she was little but after awhile got a little fatter and stopped flying. We were hoping she would do the same, but she hasn't fattened up yet.