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 Pinioning Ducks

[ Old Fashion Pinioning ]

[ Bloodless Pinioning ]


[ Wing Clipping ]

[ Pinioning Ducklings ]


Pinioning is a simple surgical that involves removing the end of the wing to render the bird incapable flight permanently.

Before you go getting scared let me tell you that it's not as difficult as it sounds. I have diagrams below to show you how it's done. 

Be sure when pinioning birds, you only pinion one wing and only one wing. This sets the bird off balance so that it can't fly. If you pinion both wings the bird may be able to re-learn to fly. The same applies to Clipping the wing, only clip one wing.



Old Fashion way to Pinion:

Diagram A.
You simply begin cut with a pair of metal shears just under the false thumb or wing where located. Most breeder never bother to tie anything above amputation point to stop the bleeding, for if pinioned in the fall of the year when the weather cool, the bird seldom bleeds, and if it does it's not enough to hurt them. Always begin cut under the false thumb and across the wing. Arrow indicates the beginning point. Never cut from the under side to the thumb.



Diagram B & C.
These show a method for eliminating any possibility of loss of blood. You tie off the bird's limb just above the amputation point.


Pinioning Ducklings:


Diagram D.
It's beset to pinion wild waterfowl during the first 3 or 4 days of life. At this time the wings are just about only cartilage and fluff or down, and bleeding seldom occurs if done at this time. If you're using Chloride or some other antiseptic, no tying is necessary. Tannic Acid or Ferric Chloride or some other antiseptic you can buy at your poultry store is good to apply on the wound, but most breeders do not bother with this since there is seldom as much as one drop of blood when pinioning ducklings, goslings, or cygnets a few days old. Especially the first day or two.



Wing Clipping:


Diagram E.
Wing clipping is easy. You just cut off the ends of several primaries which grounds the bird until it's next molt when it sheds it's feathers and grows new ones. Don't cut off any secondaries because these will show and mar it's appearance. Line A and B indicate where to cut under the secondaries. With most ducks you need to take so much off except for Tree Ducks who's secondaries even give them great support for flying. 



Bloodless way to Pinion a bird: