A wing trim, discussed before it is done.
A wing trim stops a bird gaining height indoors. Done well it is a light, symmetrical trim of the flight feathers that still lets the bird glide down safely. Done badly it drops a bird like a stone, and that is how birds break keels.
- Price
- ₦20,000
- How long
- Around 30 minutes including the conversation first.
- For
- Birds
Plus the ₦20,000 home visit fee, charged once per address however many pets you have.
What the appointment actually involves.
A conversation before anything
What the bird is, how it lives, and whether a trim is actually the answer. Sometimes it is not, and we will say so.
Flight feathers only, both sides
Trimmed symmetrically. A one-winged trim, still sold as a technique, leaves a bird unable to control a fall and is not something we will do.
Blood feathers checked and avoided
A growing feather has a blood supply. Cutting one bleeds significantly and needs pulling to stop.
A safe landing left intact
Enough taken to stop lift, not so much that the bird cannot glide. The point is control, not grounding.
Before we come
- Think about why you want it. Escaping through a door and flying into ceiling fans are good reasons. Convenience alone usually is not.
- If the bird has just moulted or is mid-moult, mention it. Fresh blood feathers change the timing.
- Have the room the bird will be released into clear of open water, hot surfaces and fans.
Afterwards
- A newly trimmed bird misjudges its first few landings. Keep it low and supervised for a day.
- Feathers grow back at the next moult, so this is not permanent and it is not a decision you are stuck with.
Pet health cover does not apply here
No pet health plan in Nigeria settles this, so it is paid for directly. We would rather say that here than have you discover it at the point of claiming.
The three questions we get every time.
Is wing clipping cruel?
It is genuinely debated and we will not pretend otherwise. Done badly, or done to a bird that has no space and no stimulation, it is hard to defend. Done lightly and symmetrically on a bird that lives in an open Lagos house with ceiling fans and unscreened windows, it prevents the deaths we actually see. We would rather talk it through with you than either refuse outright or do it without asking.
Will my bird ever fly again?
Yes. Feathers are replaced at the next moult and full flight returns unless it is trimmed again.
Does it hurt?
No, if only mature flight feathers are cut. A mature feather has no nerve or blood supply, like cutting hair. Cutting a growing blood feather does hurt and does bleed, which is exactly what the examination first is for.
Across Lagos, on a route.
Book wing trim (birds) at home.
Pick your exact time, Monday to Saturday. We come to you, and you get a written care note before we leave.