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Post by Hezz on Jun 21, 2013 2:22:18 GMT
As I mentioned on another thread, I have been doing a little avian-vets-in-Australia research, to start with to find out where my closest one is - about 1200 kms away!!! - and I found a rather worrying trend, in my opinion. Many, most, of these guys are promoting wing clipping "for the safety of the animal". Then in the next breath they point out that obesity in our feathered friends is a very real problem. Well, duh! If you clip a bird's wings, and from what I can gather from instructions and photos, they are talking both wings, and the bird cannot get it's usual level of exercise, what the hell do they think is going to happen? ? I am all for "the safety of the animal" but we on the forum know there are ways around, and ways to educate these little guys so that they learn what and where their boundaries are, and bird-proofing your room/s so that the bird can be safe out of their cage and flying about. I shake my head in wonder ......... the only thing I can think of is that they are thinking more of the bigger pet birds, where a normal sized room may not be big enough for them to spread their wings and fly with comfort, but this doesn't really work for me either, as the things that I see people calling aviaries - a lot of these I would call a large cage!
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Post by stace on Jun 21, 2013 6:41:46 GMT
I don't know what I'd do if my avian vet left or retired. Not only is he professionally competent, he's just a natural with his birdie patients. I wish he had someone working with him to pass on his knowledge and methods. They do seem to be lone practitioners though, these avian vets.
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Post by samwiseg on Jun 21, 2013 7:47:34 GMT
Unbelievable! It does seem kinda ironic how they mention wing clippjng then obesity?! I'm with you on that one Hezz, how people say that they have an animal/medical degree but not an ounce of inginuity or common sense!
A true avian vet tho is worth their weight in gold, shame there are not very many about. Is there a list on here? If not perhaps we should compile one?
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Post by Hezz on Jun 21, 2013 10:07:30 GMT
I think it did get started, Sam ...... maybe not avian, but vets who members were happy with. But this also points out that avian vets are not a dime a dozen, and not the only ones to be listened to! ...... I love my local vet with the bird experience as I know she "feels the pain". She has birds, her mum has birds, the vet nurses have birds .......... none of them have ever brought up the issue of wing clipping. Lucky for them!!! I don't know what I would do if she left the district ..... kidnap her? ? But why promote something that is going to be to the detriment of the birds' quality of life? I truly don't get it!
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Post by stace on Jun 21, 2013 10:15:45 GMT
Maybe their thinking is that it will give at least the birds time out of the cage, for those who don't feel able to tame their birds without disabling their flying somehow.
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Post by samwiseg on Jun 21, 2013 10:29:23 GMT
Even so, everyone has different views however in my humble opinion I think it is barbaric They were never meant to be clipped and a bird is meant to fly afterall?!
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Post by stace on Jun 21, 2013 10:31:47 GMT
Even so, everyone has different views however in my humble opinion I think it is barbaric They were never meant to be clipped and a bird is meant to fly afterall?! I agree. But we're all very diligent and thoughtful budgie mums (and dads). Sadly, a lot of people are not.
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Post by samwiseg on Jun 21, 2013 10:34:25 GMT
Even so, everyone has different views however in my humble opinion I think it is barbaric They were never meant to be clipped and a bird is meant to fly afterall?! I agree. But we're all very diligent and thoughtful budgie mums (and dads). Sadly, a lot of people are not. Too true Stace, too true Think you have started off a "let off steam" thread Hezz!
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Post by Hezz on Jun 21, 2013 10:47:33 GMT
Even so, everyone has different views however in my humble opinion I think it is barbaric They were never meant to be clipped and a bird is meant to fly afterall?! EXACTLY!!!!!! I really don't care for the how-for's and where-for's ........what is the point of letting a bird out of a cage if it CAN'T MAKE THE MOST OF IT? ?
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Post by samwiseg on Jun 21, 2013 15:29:15 GMT
Even so, everyone has different views however in my humble opinion I think it is barbaric They were never meant to be clipped and a bird is meant to fly afterall?! EXACTLY!!!!!! I really don't care for the how-for's and where-for's ........what is the point of letting a bird out of a cage if it CAN'T MAKE THE MOST OF IT? ? B%**&Y RIDICULOUS isn't it?!
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Post by skysmum on Jun 21, 2013 16:39:20 GMT
Incredible isn't it, i should think anyone can see the cause and effect here, clip wings will get fat, and also more of a chance to get bad feet. Having said that Jo Jo hasn't flown for two years and Freddy for most of her life and they arn't fat. I still don't hold with wing clipping, the pet shop had clipped one of Inca's wings in a bid to hand tame her so that they could charge more. They were showing off with her in the shop, grabbing her from the cage making her sit on their shoulders and when she tried to take flight she was crashing into everything, i was so horrified i bought her to get her out of the situation and refused to pay extra for what i told them was a forced attempt at hand taming. Sorry Hezz bit of topic, but i feel better rant over.
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Post by tinksmum on Jun 21, 2013 19:07:17 GMT
Sounds like those vets need a good dose of common sense injected into them! Im very fortunate to have an avian vet, but he is the only one in South Wales (UK)
Personally I don't like the idea of clipped wings at all, im not against those who do this for safety reasons until the bird is used to its new surrounding ect, but as a personal choice I would NEVER get a birds wings clipped, I really do think its cruel.
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Post by Captain Howdy on Jun 21, 2013 22:00:37 GMT
I have an Avian Vet I am happy with and shedoes not agree with wing clipping.
The only time I would consider it if it were not a medical reason for clipping the bird, would be in the case of my larger parrots, if they ever got aggresive during breeding season to the point of flying at and attacking people, namely me as I can work around their out of cage time with other people, and I'm only really talking about Rocky here due to the damage he can do with his beak, but even then I would do my best to work around it. Hormone injections etc.
The reason why some vets advocate it is simple, bird gets clipped, bird can't fly so more chance of injury = more money when bird requires vet. Bird gets clipped, no flying so no exercise, bird gets overweight, added health problems so more vets fees and my absolute favourite one, vets trying to sell their promoted food that they get paid to advertise by companies.
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Post by Hezz on Jun 22, 2013 1:02:51 GMT
Remember I am talking avian vets in Australia, not UK - I wouldn't have a clue with them. But good point, Skysmum, JoJo and Freddy not being fliers, but also not being fat. There is probably a proportion of that down to genetics, just like humans. Lucky birds. God love us, I would hate to think of how obese Smudge would be if she had the excuse that she couldn't fly to add to her laziness! She really would be waddling about like a duck ....... no offense to ducks, lol.
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Post by samwiseg on Jun 22, 2013 6:59:29 GMT
Incredible isn't it, i should think anyone can see the cause and effect here, clip wings will get fat, and also more of a chance to get bad feet. Having said that Jo Jo hasn't flown for two years and Freddy for most of her life and they arn't fat. I still don't hold with wing clipping, the pet shop had clipped one of Inca's wings in a bid to hand tame her so that they could charge more. They were showing off with her in the shop, grabbing her from the cage making her sit on their shoulders and when she tried to take flight she was crashing into everything, i was so horrified i bought her to get her out of the situation and refused to pay extra for what i told them was a forced attempt at hand taming. Sorry Hezz bit of topic, but i feel better rant over. OMG that is TERRIBLE! Well done you for rescuing her, she is such a beaut Agree with you on that one Skysmum about the potential of foot problems, they can be prone to get things such as bumblefoot let alone broken feet or toes GRRRR That's my rant over too
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