Flying is natural for ducks. However, for pet duck owners, the bird might fly away or land in unsafe areas. Therefore, it makes sense to clip their wings.
But is clipping a duck’s wings cruel? While it might deny them their freedom of flight, clipping is suitable for domestic birds because they cannot survive easily in the wild if they fly away.
The Process
How do you clip duck wings? You need to know the feather anatomy. Ducks have two main types of feathers: flight feathers (primary feathers) and covert feathers.
Clip the primary/flight feathers, those just below the covert feathers. Grab the duck, then extend the wing out from the body. Next, clip the flight feathers, but do not go very far inward to the covert feathers. You might cut a blood feather if you do, which will be very painful for the duck.
The birds do not feel pain when their wings are clipped if done correctly. Feathers develop like hair or nails and consist of dead protein cells (keratin). These do not have nerves, so the duck feels no pain if you cut at the right spot.
You can clip both wings on a duck, but it’s not a must. The number of feathers you trim on each side affects the amount of lift they can generate. So if you clip one side, the other might still be able to lift the bird, albeit in an imbalanced manner.
Muscovy Ducks
Muscovy ducks are close to being wild and can fly away during migration for the winter. They can also fly off if they are not happy with their living conditions.
If you are not sure about how to keep ducks from flying away, first make sure you take good care of them so they remain happy at home. Second, clip their wings just in case they try to explore their wild side.
How To Clip a Muscovy Ducks Wings
The process of how to clip a Muscovy duck’s wings is more or less the same as for any other duck. Use the steps above. For the Muscovy duck, clip the same number of primary feathers (usually 10) on both wings to maintain balance. You can leave the first 3-4 flight feathers intact at the tip to make the wing look natural when folded back to the body.
Do Clipped Duck Wings Grow Back?
How long do clipped wings last? Ducks replace all their feathers at least once annually in a process called molting. Therefore, the clipping lasts a year, then the feathers fall off, and new ones emerge.
Trim the new flight feathers once annually after molting, which usually begins during summer and takes about 6-8 weeks. Therefore, knowing when to clip your duck’s wings is essential to maintain and should be done in the fall.
If you don’t clip your duck’s wings in time, in most cases, domesticated ducks cannot fly away. In time, breeders created birds with specific characteristics while breeding out the ability to fly. For instance, ducks for meat are heavy and cannot take off. However, small pet ducks such as Mallards can fly away, so it is necessary to clip their wings.
Compared to Rouens, Pekins, and other large ducks, Call ducks are relatively small and can fly away. However, if you select such birds as your pets, it does not necessarily mean they will fly off. The ducks create a special bond with the owner, so they will not leave as long as you take good care of them.
Should I Clip my Pet Ducks Wings?
This is a precautionary measure. Since the birds bond strongly with their owner, they do not fly away. However, it is better to clip their wings because they might decide to explore their wild side.
We know that ducks molt once annually, but at what age can ducks fly away if they choose to? After hatching, ducklings take about two months (60 days) to grow full-fledged feathers and fly. You can clip them at this age to ensure they stay on your property.
You can clip your duck’s wings yourself with a little knowledge and patience, as it is not such a difficult task. All you need is a sharp pair of scissors and a second person to hold the bird so you can stretch the wings out and cut at the right spots.
If you’re concerned about harming your duck and wondering if veterinarians clip duck wings, they do, but it is cheaper and less stressful for your birds if you do it yourself. Ducks are more comfortable with people they formed a bond with, so you should only consider this option if you have no idea about the anatomy of bird feathers and where to cut them.
The cost of having a veterinarian clip your duck’s wings depends on the veterinarian. Not all vets charge the same rate. However, expect to pay about $15 for a small duck breed or about $20 for a large one. Try to observe the process and ask the vet to clarify anything not clear so you can clip the wings yourself next time after molting.
How Do You Tell if a Duck’s Wings Are Clipped?
To tell if a duck’s wings are clipped you can simply stretch out the wing to expose the different types of feathers. Take a look at the flight feathers, which should have the shaft trimmed if clipped.
Large breeds are usually too heavy to fly away, and the best they can do is a few minutes or seconds in the air, so their wings don’t necessarily need to be clipped. On the other hand, wild ducks such as Muscovy and Mallards can easily take off because they are lighter. It is better to clip all pet duck wings to be on the safe side.
Wrap Up
Clipping a duck’s wings is simple, but you must know what you are doing or you could hurt the bird. Make sure you have someone hold the duck for you, then follow the steps above to complete the task.