I bet they'll love being able to fly around the house. It will be safer with blood feathers too because they'll have several flights to shield the new blood feathers when they do come through.

 

I sure hope so- I tried once with Baby and we even practiced flappies but she still wanted to walk around instead of fly..Maybe if she sees Ziggy...It'll be hard not taking them places. They really love to go to my parents but...

 

You can always pop them in a travel cage to visit your parents!

 

..Not the same..my parents have a crazy cat and always keep their patio open..so I'd have to keep them in the travel cage the whole time instead of them walking around on the table to eat our food or hang out on my shoulder.

 

Well i'm sure they won't mind as much as you, keep that in mind. They will probably hardly even register that they're missing out.

 

Is it a must or is it ok that their wings arn't clipped?? I tend to like the way they look when they are all grown out.

 

NOOO -not at all. I kept Baby and Ziggy clipped because they always go out with me but I also LOVE the way their wings look when they're grown out. I'm sure they'll like it. I look forward to having them fly to me and taking some great flight pics!!!

 

That is great for Ziggy, he'll love being able to fly I'm sure. Willow isn't clipped either...

kyliesmom07 - it isn't a must at all. It's just that sometimes cockatiels tend to be on the clumsy side, and its safer to clip them to prevent them from flying into things like windows. But if your tiel is a good flyer then theres probably no need. You can also clip them for taming

 

Keep up with the flappies practice. Spike is doing a bit of flying now and he is doing great. It's me who is chasing him around trying to get him down He has not flown in to anything though.

 

My rule is that when I get a bird, its wings will be clipped until we get to know each other. Reno and Cousteau were flighted, but when they came to live with me, I had the gal clip their wings. Reno's wings will remain clipped. He's a pretty good flier even clipped. Birdie is now allowed to have her wings... now that she's nice. The other two love being held though, so I'm not worried about them.

Do you put anything on your birds when you take them out? Like a leash or bracelet or something? None of my birds are banded, but when Boomer goes out I put a thin leather strap around his leg. He won't fly with it on. It makes him angry and he picks at it the entire time. (But he doesn't go out of the house too often)

And could I steal your thread a second? When you clip their wings, how long does it take for the stress to ware off? Mine are going to a sitter for the Christmas holidays, and I'd like to know how many days before I bring them over to clip.....? Thanks

 

Do you put anything on your birds when you take them out? Like a leash or bracelet or something?

No, I do not have anything on them but I by no means recommend it unless you KNOW your tiel VERY well. I still don't know Ziggy and we are not bonded like me and Baby are and I have to hold him alot of the time. I don't trust or know his reactions alot of the time so I limit the time he has outside. Baby I trust her 100%. I know her like the back of my hand. Their instinct is to fly AWAY from the flock (which is you) so it's important that you know and watch every move they make and know how they react to different things. Noises, cars, anything can frighten them and they will try to fly away unless otherwise taught. Baby learned to hide in my hair if something scares her-people, anything-she runs in my hair and doesn't try to fly off by any means. Ziggy's a different story like I said but I've only had him two months so I don't expect much from him yet.

And could I steal your thread a second? When you clip their wings, how long does it take for the stress to ware off? Mine are going to a sitter for the Christmas holidays, and I'd like to know how many days before I bring them over to clip.....?

Well, mine don't get stressed because they've always been clipped and don't really know any better. I stopped clipping my budgies a while ago and they are all now flighted- I never plan to clip them again. They have too much fun flying all over the place. I'm not sure how long before but if they are at a sitter is she going to be taking them out or something-is that why you need to clip?

 

Well, because I see a lot of "lost" bird adds down here in California, and I'm just terrified of them getting lose. Just a precaution, and the birds don't know them (though Boomer did go over and meet them when I had the "interview". Reno will stay clipped no matter what- because he flies AWAY from you... @_@ Everybody else is just starting to grow out. They're at the point of either clip, or let them be. Mostly it's just me being scared. Better safe than sorry, huh?

 

Hey Aly, you could pick up a couple of aviator harnesses for their xmas pressies. They're meant to be the best for flighted birds and they come in tiel size. Then they could still go everywhere with you.

 

How do you train your bird to get into one? This one come in Tiel size, and I could NOT get it on Boomer.
http://www.petsmart.com/product/ind...2751020&cp=&sr=1&origkw=bird+harness&kw=bird+harness&parentPage=search&keepsr=1

 

You've got to introduce them really slowly. Feather Tethers don't have the best reputation for being comfortable though, the buckles tend to rub and irritate the feathers. Aviator harnesses have no buckles so there's nothing to rub.