clc@PacBell.COM (Connie Chapman) (07/28/90)
I have a five-year old Cockatiel (age approximate, I got him five years ago when my brother-in-law found him). We have had his wings clipped a couple of times, but he seems to get the ability to fly back in a short period of time (last time in less than a day). Right now, he has full flight. We let him have the run of the house when we are home. He stays in his cage when we are away. Last Saturday, he got out of the house. We left the back door open (the screen was closed, but the bottom panel of the screen was gone) and he must have walked out. By the time we noticed that he was missing, several hours probably had passed. Anyway, by some miracle, we heard him calling to us on Sunday morning. After crawling over two fences, walking over 200 yards (most uphill), walking through poison oak and climbing trees, we got him back. He thought that this was GREAT FUN. Needless to say, the door is no longer kept open when he is out, and the panel to the screen is going to be replaced as soon as we get the time. But, I wonder, should I have his wings clipped again? We don't have cats, but have two dogs, and sometimes the bird walks on the floor with the dogs. I want him to be able to get out of the way if they start jumping around, but don't want him to get out again. Finding him the way we did was just plain luck! Thanks-in-advance, Connie Chapman Beamer (Lab) Mac (Lhasa) Buddy (escape-artist-cockatiel)