How to Trim Flight Wings on Birds

If you have a bird in your home as a pet, you need to know how to keep its wings trimmed. This will make it easier for you to catch your bird after allowing it to roam around the house. Trimming flight wings will also keep the bird safe in its cage by preventing it from trying to fly and becoming tangled in hanging toys or hurt by the wire of the cage.

Things You'll Need

  • Scissors
  • Towel
  • Tweezers
  • A second person
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Instructions

  1. Trimming the Birds Wings

    • 1

      Lay out the scissors, towel, and tweezers so they are ready to use. Have your helper in the room with you before you begin handling the bird.

    • 2

      Place your bird in an area that is isolated from a lot of noise and activity. Keeping the bird calm will make this process easier for you and your bird. Remove your bird from its cage and handle it just enough so that it is comfortable in your hands and feels calm.

    • 3

      Wrap the bird gently in the towel, and have the second person hold the bird with its stomach facing up. Gently remove one wing from the towel and fully extend it outward. Take the scissors and cut the first four flight feathers. These are the longest feathers on the bottom of the bird's wing. Re-wrap the bird in the towel again to secure the clipped wing.

    • 4

      Repeat step 3 with the unclipped wing, and then allow your bird to take flight in a safe, closed room. If the bird is still able to fly normally, you need to go back and clip another feather from the flight wings, but do not cut every flight feather. Clip the flight feathers until your bird is unable to fly in an upward direction. Check your birds feathers periodically for re-growth and repeat this process once the bird is beginning to fly normally again.