Oh, NO! Wings were trimmed

tidnab42 · Post by **tidnab42** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 1:05 am

I have a feeling I know the answer to this questions, but I'm not for sure.
We added 2 more (neat looking - society finches to our family about a week ago) I didn't noticed right away, but after closer inspection found out the wings have been trimmed. But I don't know why anybody would do that to a finch. Plus I think they were the wrong feathers. Instead of being the outside most feathers it's all the inside ones. I mean all of them..
I feel horrible for these guys. Will they ever get new feathers grown in the entire inside parts? This was a pet store purchase (don't yell at me).

thanks for info..

Cindy
itscatch22@comcast.net

TammyS · Post by **TammyS** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 9:33 am

Hi Cindy,

Unfotunately, this shows you the ignorance of the pet shop.

The birds will grow new wing feathers, but not until they go through their next molt.

Can they fly and get around the cage? If not, place perches closely so they can get around the cage and to the food and water.

tina · Post by **tina** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 9:58 am

I agree 100 % with what Tammy said. They will grow back but it takes a while. I bought 2 zebra hens from a pet store that had clipped all the finches wings. I was disgusted by the entire thing. They onyl did it so they could keep 50 of them in a (too)small square box area without using up a cage large enough for them. Maybe they thought they where easier to catch without wings, I don't know. It was very hard on the girls I noticed when I got them home and they where quite scared of everyone and everything. 1 of the hens still will not try to fly much even though her wings are back fully now. It is sad when petstores do that to finches.

Post by **Hilary** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 1:22 pm

My animal shelter clips everybody. I adopted 7 finches from them - all clipped. I just adopted a ringneck dove - clipped (he's supposed to be let out of his cage for exercise - how can he exercise without wings?). My avian vet was furious when I brought one of the finches in for something - I had to explain fast that it wasn't me!!

Hilary

tidnab42 · Post by **tidnab42** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 2:08 pm

My poor little birdies.... That's how I noticed the wings because I was checking them over and the little sucker got away, hardly got away, he could go very far and was too was to easy to catch. When I spread his one wing I was floored. He can get around the little cage I have them in, it's the "isolation and quarentine cage" with ease, it's small and comfy. But I was getting ready in a few more weeks to have them join the rest of the flock. I will certainly make sure these guys are able to get around when the time comes to transistion them to there new bigger home.

BTW- How often do they molt? Will it be very obvious and do they kind of do it at the same time? Thanks (I'm talking about my societies) I have a pair of Blues (Cordon Blues) and the female has taken forever to get thru her molt.

Thanks everyone....

Cindy H.

FINCHforum

Oh, NO! Wings were trimmed

Oh, NO! Wings were trimmed

That's how it was discovered...