When a bird is handicapped in some way, we tend to "baby" it. Treat it differently then we would another bird. And sometimes this is necessary (different types of perching for specific injuries, softer foods for beak deformities, etc.) but most of the time, it is not necessary and we are only making things harder on the bird to be a bird. 

Such is the case in relation to flight with Morgan, the macaw. 

Yes, she has a deformed left foot. Yes, she rests differently because of it and lands differently because of it (with her good foot first, her left secondary) but it doesn't actually effect anything... except what you think it effects and compensate for regardless. Sometimes, WE are what is holding the animal back, and not the handicap. 

In this training session Patty struggles with the same five issues as before. 

At this point, I felt like maybe I was missing something to be able to help Patty more effectively. So I asked my husband, and fellow bird trainer, to watch a session and give any input he might notice. 

Luckily, he was able to shed some valuable light.