Wing clipping

[Guest ChrisP]

I've heard a few different things, but I was always told to clip the first five feathers on a pheasant. Is that correct, and also is it the same for partridge and duck?

if anyone has any pictures or a video that would be great

Cheers

Edited March 31, 2012 by ChrisP

[Jimmer]

I'm pretty sure there are a couple video's on youtube, but the game rearer may be the best person to show you.

[Paul223]

Really depends on the age of the bird, if they are 7 week old then look for the new feathers and clip from there out, do not clip new feathers after moulting!

Don't cut back to far and just do one wing

[rem708]

I’ve been clipping exotic birds for some time but never a pheasant

 

The process is simple. You only cut one wing and never two as the idea is to destabilise the lift.

 

Pull out one wing. Select 3 or 4 of the large tip feathers and stick a finger between them and the remainder so as to isolate them. You don’t want to clip these as they cover up the clipped area. Now cut the next 5 or so. You need to clip them fairly short and access from the bottom of the wing is much easier. There may be other feathers sitting on top and these you leave as they are ‘cosmetic’ to hide the missing flight feathers. Look carefully at the quill and ensure it does not have blood in it (should be quite white and translucent). Sometimes new feathers contain a blood supply near the base and I can assure you they bleed profusely if cut.

 

If I can get someone to take some pictures I will show you on my grumpy ol’ macaw (who seems to have mastered the art of skewed flight :yes: