For the last 4 years I have not clipped my cockatoos wings. In that time he grew very strong and I noticed a definite change in his behaviour. He had much more independence as he had the ability to move around the room. He was able to fly back to his T-Perch when he had to go to the bathroom and then fly back to join us. Quite amazing really. Typically he would have to communicate his needs with us - he does have a number of non-verbal gestures he uses to indicate when he wants to go upstairs/downstairs/outside/bathroom.

On the other hand, he became more ‘cocky.’ As a pet, he would be a little more agressive. When he would bite, he would fly away instantly. It’s almost as though he knew he was in trouble, and would instantly take off when he bit. Biting seemed a little more frequent when he was fully flighted.

On the other hand, he didn’t get any outdoor time. I’ve just recently clipped his wings in the last 3 weeks to give him some serious outdoor time

Did being flighted make him more content or a better pet?

Anyone else have any similar experiences?