I agree with on the clay pigeons. If you are "Powdering" the clays then you are hitting with a large amount of bbs but it clay just breaks that could just be 1.
You could switch to a harder hitting shot #3 or #2 shot. More than likely being you're new to birds your lead isn't proper and thus the reason for cripples. Try to focus on your lead so the birds you fold and the ones you cripple are the same lead.