clipping ducks wings

[karen555]

I've just had two 4 week old call ducks. Do I need to get thier wings clipped or do they stay where they live without flying away?

[tetherend]

I was advised by three different vets that this is a very cruel practice and each of them doubted that any other vet would agree to do it.

[woofgang]

what did the person who you got the ducks from say?

[Noweia]

It isn't necessarily cruel - clipping wings involves clipping the insensitive parts of some of the primary and secondary flight feathers on the wing, preventing the bird from getting enough power to lift off the ground, and thus preventing the birds flying off. 

Just make sure that when the wings are being clipped  you don't cut any brood feathers - these feathers are pink at the base and haven't completely grown in yet.  On that point, make sure your birds have their adult plumage before you trim them!

Birds' wings should be trimmed once a year to keep them short (as all the feathers are replaced on a yearly basis.)

Hope this helps!

[Goofy]

A really goo site for all poultry qustions is this

www.practicalpoultry.co.uk/forum/