Most bird owners clip their birds to help control or limit their flight. There are two main reasons for this:

The first is safety. Houses have too many hazards for a fully flighted bird to live in. Open doors, windows, toilet bowls, ceiling fans, and all of the kitchen hazards can prove fatal for our feathered companions.

Secondly, birds can quickly develop a dominant attitude if allowed to fly. A recent discussion with Layne Dicker, a noted bird behaviourist, explained the psychological reason for clipping. Birds in the wild will fly in a flock because they are safe in numbers from predators and they have a sense of belonging with all of their flock mates. We are land dwellers and a flighted pet bird does not feel he belongs in our flock and therefore becomes independent making him difficult to handle. With his wings clipped, he is now a land dweller and has the feeling of belonging to his flock of humans and, as a result, will be much happier as a pet bird.

We receive the birds at this young age because it gives their new owners (the people adopting them or, in bird terms, "flock" members) a wonderful opportunity to bond with each baby. The breeders are doing the same hand feeding at their home so we felt it would make for a better union if we gave the owners the opportunity and experience to participate with all stages of the adoption.

We have learned through our continuing discussions with bird behaviourists that by allowing parrots to fledge (fly) during their development they become much more secure birds and pets. The babies gain great confidence with flight and more importantly, they learn the skill of landing.

All flighted birds can fly; it is instinctive—But the skill and confidence of landing must be learned, and this is done quickest and easiest during fledging. Over the next few weeks of this controlled flight, we perform gradual clips to prepare for their life in their permanent home.