wing clipping

muscovieduck · **Posted:** Wed Dec 22, 2010 12:48 pm

I'm just after some advice on how I should clip my duck's wing.

When I first got them home, we clipped just the tips(about 3-4inches) off the longest feathers(not sure if it was all the primaries, but the end 5-6 feathers were cut). Since then it's all been good, they haven't really flown anywhere, except for the other day I couldn't find my ducks. I found them across the other side of the park behind my house. Now it just concerns me that several houses around me have dogs(there's even a dog in the other part of my yard) and I would hate for them to go into one of these yards, and also in the park they seem to like going to, there are no fences so it's quite possible that there could be off leash dogs roaming around not to mention that it's against council regulations to have my birds outside my property boundary. So I've come to the conclusion that I didn't clip their wings properly.

After doing a bit of reading, if my duck's feathers are fully grown and I can't see any blood in them, I can clip them as far down as the covert feathers, is this correct? Also my ducks are muscovies and I read that tree ducks' secondary feathers provide a lot of support whilst flying, does this mean I would also need to clip these feathers as well, or will only clipping the primary flight feathers be enough to keep them grounded?

They are easy enough to herd back into my yard from the park, but it seems the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence and I'm not here all day to make sure they're still in my yard and I'd hate for them to be injured by a roaming animal in the park. If anyone can confirm that I can/should cut the primary feathers right down at the covert feather level or otherwise I'd appreciate it. Also any tips on restraining the birds? The first time we just held them behind the neck and kept their other wing against their body, would a towel over the head make it any easier?

OakA · **Posted:** Wed Dec 22, 2010 2:05 pm

When you clip a wing you do one wing only and clip primaries and secondaries, that way the bird is thrown off balance and cannot fly.
Something to consider if you have them in a wire run/yard that is not covered is that Muscovies use those long claws to climb.They will flap thier wings and climb a wire fence to get out if that is thier intention.
Another point of interest with Muscovies is they usually do not attempt escape until they are ready to lay, then search for a suitable place to steal a nest.It is usually a pretty good indicator they are on point of lay.

muscovieduck · **Posted:** Wed Dec 22, 2010 2:22 pm

Oaklands wrote:

When you clip a wing you do one wing only and clip primaries and secondaries, that way the bird is thrown off balance and cannot fly.
Something to consider if you have them in a wire run/yard that is not covered is that Muscovies use those long claws to climb.They will flap thier wings and climb a wire fence to get out if that is thier intention.
Another point of interest with Muscovies is they usually do not attempt escape until they are ready to lay, then search for a suitable place to steal a nest.It is usually a pretty good indicator they are on point of lay.

Thanks oaklands,

Interesting about the point of lay thing, I am expecting her to lay soonish. I've just had to herd her back into my yard twice today, she's going over the fence more and more now that she's realised she can get there. They free range in my yard but I have a wooden fence not a wire fence. When I was herding her back to my yard just now, she flew from the ground to the top of my fence(6ft) with no trouble, so I think it's safe to say my clipping attempt is a complete failure :lol:

All the clipping diagrams I can find only say to cut the primary feathers, if I am to cut the secondaries as well, how many and how far down do I need to cut them?

OakA · **Posted:** Wed Dec 22, 2010 3:16 pm

Take the right back to the body, the entire wing on one side only.
Just do not take thm right to the base of the feather, leave 5 cm (2 inches) no more but not a lot less.
The objective is to make it impossible to lift up off the ground and fly, no wing , no fly, lol.
Give her somewhere to seclude her nest and she will be happy.

Ben n Deb · **Posted:** Wed Dec 22, 2010 3:48 pm

Looks like you have some very determined ducks! I only ever clip the primary feathers right back. I have never needed to clip the secondary ones, tho I'll keep that in mind if one decides to be determined!

You will find that once they can't get over it, they will forget soon enough. Especially being a wooden fence, they can't really see what is on the other side. For my birds, they only have a waist high (think school yard style) fence, and it is enough for the ducks... the chooks are another matter

Just don't forget that you need to trim them every year after they molt!

muscovieduck · **Posted:** Wed Dec 22, 2010 10:14 pm

Thanks for that. I'll clip them again as soon as I have someone to assist me, hopefully no harm will come to her in the meantime! I'll have to bribe them to stay in my yard with lots of yummy stuff :lol:

Not sure I'm going to bother with the male, he's only been over the fence once the first time, and hasn't followed the female over the subsequent times. I doubt he's going to stray too far away from his female once she's been clipped properly.
[smilie=thanks.gif]

Valerie · **Joined:** Fri Dec 24, 2010 9:07 am **Posts:** 1

Can you clip both wings so they are balanced?

wickedwings · **Posted:** Sat Dec 25, 2010 5:30 pm

The idea is to only clip one wing so they are unbalanced, that way they don't feel comfortable flying.

Adam · **Joined:** Sun Dec 26, 2010 3:02 pm **Posts:** 8

You clip only one wing and they can't fly at all they flip over to the side you clipped

AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

wing clipping

Who is on the Forum