How to Clip an African Grey Parrot's Wings

Clipping an African Grey's wings is important for its safety and protection. Flight-capable birds are liable to fly through doors or into windows, ceiling fans, hot cooking food and people. You also want to clip the wings to make sure your pet stays home. There's nothing worse than seeing your bird fly away and never return.

Things You'll Need

  • Hand towel
  • Sharp scissors or wire clippers
  • Assistant (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the African Grey parrot on its back on a towel. Wrap the towel around its legs and head. be careful not to injure the parrot. If you have an assistant, ask him to hold the bird while you work.

    • 2

      Hold the wing you'll be clipping about one-third of the way from the tip and stretch it, careful not to pull it in a way that is not natural for the wing to move.

    • 3

      Grasp the first flight feather. The flight feathers are the long, outer feathers that extend the farthest. Gently lift the flight feather away from the surrounding feathers.

    • 4

      Clip the feather. You want to clip it at the point where the feather barbules begin to form. Barbules are hairy structures that extend from the barbs. You do not want any feather left on the shaft.

    • 5

      Repeat process to cut a total of four feathers on each wing.

    • 6

      If your parrot can still fly farther than 10 feet, clip the next feather down on each wing, for a total of five feathers cut off of each wing.