Experts warn wing clipping can lead to pet birds developing health, behavioural issues

"As soon as your parrot comes home, don't overthink it -- just give it a trim," says the Mandarin narration in a Douyin video shared on October 31, 2025.

It goes on to suggest pet owners should trim their pet's feathers if they are biting or flying around haphazardly.

"After trimming, the bird will still look great and it helps it become more tame and affectionate."

The video shows someone using scissors to trim the flight feathers of a small green-and-yellow bird.

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Screenshot of the misleading Douyin video captured on November 3, 2025, with an orange X added by AFP

Similar videos were shared alongside related claims on Facebook, RedNote, TikTok, YouTube and Weibo.

"If you love your bird, please trim all its feathers," read a comment on one of the posts.

Another said: "Without wing clipping, it's much easier for a bird to escape -- mine has already flown away."

But experts do not recommend wing clipping, saying it can lead to health and behavioural issues.

Colin McDermott, a clinical assistant professor at Hong Kong City University's veterinary school, told AFP via email on October 23, "Wing clipping is not recommended for pet birds. Flight is a normal behaviour for birds, and helps to keep their muscles well-toned, and helps maintain a healthy weight" (archived link).

He said birds may also suffer additional mental stress and develop behavioural issues -- such as chewing and removing their own feathers.

Improperly performed wing trims could also prevent a bird from gliding or catching itself, leading it to "suffer trauma to the head or keel from falling injuries".

Damage to new feathers, which have a strong blood supply when growing, can also lead to the bird suffering "significant, life-threatening blood loss," he said.

Potential harm

Michelle Campbell-Ward, an associate professor in wildlife and avian medicine at the University of Sydney, told AFP that wing clipping "has been used historically in aviculture and bird keeping due to a misconception it makes life safer for birds. In some countries it is a commonly accepted practice" (archived link).

"It is not necessary, and in fact, these days it is not recommended by those with expertise in avian health and welfare in most circumstances. It can actually create a bird welfare problem," she said in an email on October 24.

She told AFP that limiting a bird's ability to fly can lead to it developing physiological and psychological issues.

"Avian veterinarians regularly treat medical, psychological, and surgical issues due to poor feather trimming techniques," she added.

McDermott said a better alternative to wing trimming is to "provide a safe environment for flight at home, and to train recall behaviours with your bird". 

The campaign group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has also warned about the potential harm of wing trimming (archived link).

"If they are improperly clipped, birds may have problems regrowing their flight feathers normally. Both wings must have the same number of feathers clipped, and to the same length, for the bird to balance properly, maintain flight control, and prevent crashing and injury to the keel bone, beak, and wings," the group said on its website.

"If the feathers are clipped too much, the bird will fall, possibly breaking his or her fragile bones."

AFP has previously debunked other misinformation related to pets.