How to Clip Bird Feathers
As the owner of a bird it's important to keep its feathers properly clipped to reduce the risk of injury. Because it's natural for birds to want to fly, they can potentially cause physical damage to themselves and your belongings if they attempt flight inside the home. When clipping your pet's feathers it is important to understand how to properly do so.
What You'll Need
- Short, sharp scissors
- Towel
- Styptic powder
- Ask your veterinarian to show you how to clip your bird's feathers if you've never done it before. This will make it more comfortable for you and it will give you a better idea on how to handle your pet. If possible, sit in while the vet actually clips a bird's wings.
- Buy a pair of sharp, short scissors. You can use household scissors or purchase a pair that's made specifically for the task.
- Pick a quiet room to do the trimming. There should be sufficient light so that you can clearly see the feathers.
- Recruit a friend or family member to hold the bird while you are trimming. This person should go with you to the veterinarian so that they can learn the correct way to hold the bird.
- Wrap the bird in a thick towel. Keep one hand behind its head and use the other to hold its body. Do not squeeze the chest of the bird, as this can interfere with its breathing.
- Extend one of the bird's wings. The ten longest feathers on the underside of each wing are called the primary flight feathers. These are the only feathers you will want to trim.
- Direct the scissors so that they are pointing away from your birds body. This will help to prevent you from accidentally scratching or cutting your bird if he becomes overly excited.
- Starting one wing at a time, clip the first eight to 10 primary flight feathers so that they extend just slightly beyond the feathers that sit above them. These feathers are called the major coverts or the primary flight coverts and should be used as your guideline when clipping the primary flight feathers. Take care not to cut past the major coverts as you run the risk of cutting into the newly formed blood feathers. Cutting into the blood feathers can cause pain and bleeding.
- Extend the second wing and repeat.
TIP
- In the event of bleeding, keep a styptic powder nearby when clipping your birds feathers.