[Plukie]

....with Dooby. Today, he flew from the kitchen, right out of the door, around the hallway, into the front room and on top of the curtain rail. Now in theory with a full clip like he's had, he shouldn't have made it out of the kitchen door even. So, what is the point in getting him clipped again. He launched himself at me today, trying to get my neck and face...he really is a little devil and a little darling all wrapped in one. I guess I'm just going to have to ride it out and see what each day brings. Oh yeah, I think he thinks Darryl is called Dooby, because every time Darryl walks in the room Dooby says "Hello Dooby!"

 

[Aly]

Oh boy...that doesn't sound like a clip at all..are you able to take a pic so we can see? I'm not sure what else to tell you except that's just Dooby...Sorry you're having a hard time with him...It's cute that he thinks Darryl is Dooby..I suppose he thinks he's Darryl?

 

[Plukie]

I'll do my best to get a photo of him, but I can tell you he only has three long feathers left on each wing. The vet said he would leave them so that he has something to preen.

 

[**TielHeart**]

Hmm I don't know what to about his wings but the thing with Dooby and Derryl sounds cute.

 

[Aly]

Ahh...well that's why he can fly!!! When I use to do Baby's I clipped all primaries.

 

[Plukie]

Oh for goodness sake, do you think so, with just those few feathers? Sheeesh, I think another trip to the vets is going to be on the cards soon.

 

[Laura]

You need to get those three feathers clipped thats why he can fly all I did was clip Ollie's first three and that was enough to keep him down I didn't even have to do the other ones just those first few

 

[Rosie]

Oh dear, tut tut Dooby. Looks like you need to clip the remaining three feathers.

 

[xxxSpikexxx]

Sounds like Dooby is in for another trip to the vets. It is not a full clip unless all flight feathers are cliped on both wings. I would not worry about him not having enough to preen, he has plenty of feathers I can't wait until Spike has a nice full tail like Dooby does

 

[Aly]

Some are very strong fliers -all they need is one primary. Spike is right, it's not a full clip unless all primaries are clipped. You can do it yourself Plukie..really. This will make the third time you take him in...don't worry about leaving him something to preen. Baby and Ziggy still preened plenty wing feathers even when clipped.

 

[Plukie]

Ok, I'm going to give it a go tomorrow. Darryl say's he will try and hold him while I clip him.........lol, perhaps we should set up the video camera, it will be one for You've Been Framed!!!

 

[Laura]

Believe me you will be fine Plukie I was really nervous and it was nothing I just gave a little snip snip and it was done in seconds, just get Darryl to hold him in a towel, Dooby will be fine

 

[Aly]

lol..don't worry. Once you do it you'll see how easy it is. Just have Darryl hold him with a towel (so noane gets bit). I'm assuming it's the outer three primaries on each wing which should be fairy easy to trim. Just cut along the same line as the vet did. Make sure they're not new feathers or anything and he'll be fine. Just be ready for more sulking.

 

[Bea]

I can tell you for sure that 3 primaries is MORE than enough for a strong flier. I gave Gracie a full clip, and she grew ONE long primary back on each side and could fly like she had them all.

 

[Boomberry]

Clip those 3 feathers. All Noos primary feathers are clipped and he can still fly but maybe it will slow Dooby.

 

[Plukie]

Well, it's been done!!! I caught him in the towel, dragging the corner of the towel into his water bowl in the process. Darryl couldn't hold him, he was like a little bar of soap, anyway, I grabbed him again.....gritted teeth and determination pushing me on...and I held him with one hand and clipped his wing with the other, then I turned him around and Darryl clipped his other wing. I put him back in his cage and Darryl gave him a peanut in a shell. Now.......he is as mad as a wet hen, I can tell you. There is no way i'm putting my hand in there for a couple of hours at least. Then we'll see how it goes. Thanks everybody for your support. I did it, I did it!!!!!!!

 

[Laura]

Way to go Plukie!!! I knew you could do it see it wasn't so bad, I can only imagine how mad he is right now but I am sure he will get over it soon enough

 

[xxxSpikexxx]

Yeah you did it Good job. Now give him lots of peanuts to get his anger out on

 

[Aly]

I have a silly question but I think it has alot to do with why Dooby things he rules all. I know like your fingers in one piece but I noticed you mentioned something alot and meant to ask you. I hope you don't take it the wrong way, I just want to help.

I caught him in the towel

Why not tell him up and then put the towel over him? Is he stepping up to come out of his cage?

There is no way i'm putting my hand in there for a couple of hours at least.

This is the thing I noticed you mention often. I understand you being afraind but he can easily sense that acting this way makes you stay out of his castle. Believe me, I know that you don't want to get bit but going away will only make it worse. I never put mine back after a wing clip or toe nail clip- I always hold them, try and give them head scritches, etc. They might not want scritches because they're too busy preening the feathers I've "ruffled" but still-they don't go back in their cage right away...

 

[Plukie]

Aly, I haven't taken it the wrong way and believe me, if there was a way he would step up and then I could have put the towel around him I would have, but Dooby is in one foul mood today. So, I put my hand inside the towel, put that in the cage and caught him that way, not the most friendly way to do it, I see what you are getting at. Also, to be honest, I never even thought of giving him a cuddle after, isn't that mean? I really, really, thought because he was struggling and stressing, that I would put him straight back into his cage and let him settle down. Now that you have said that though I can see that I really should have given him plenty of love after and calmed him down that way. As for me saying not putting my hand in there for a couple of hours, I was joking really, he's been fine and chattering to me at this moment. I'm going to get him out now and see how he is. I can see what you are saying about keeping me out of his castle, yep, I guess I just don't see things from a cockatiels point of view yet. Thanks very much for making those suggestions. I've got a lot to learn yet. Oh and no....I don't take offence, I'm always willing to listen and learn.