Wing Trimming

Wing Trimming

Properly done, a wing trim should prevent full flight. Wing trimming will prevent a bird from flying away, avoid injuries commonly associated with flying, and makes training easier. The preferred technique is to trim both wings. By trimming the flight feathers of both wings instead of just one, a bird can still have a safe, controlled glide to the floor. Flight feathers are the first 10-12 feathers on the wing. When only one wing is trimmed, balance is poor, directional ability is lost and dangerous "crash landings" can occur.

Wing trimming must be done on a regular basis. It is recommended that the wings be checked regularly. If you are going to trim the bird's wings, be careful not to cut the blood feathers. These are new feathers that maintain a large blood supply. If a blood feather is accidentally cut, it will bleed. Once this happens the blood feather must be removed. Have a veterinarian or a qualified person help you trim your birds wings until you are comfortable doing it on your own.