Clipping nails...what’s your technique

[junglenutcracker]

Nail clipping time here. I’d like to know what techniques forum members use.
Nail clipper? File? Sandpaper block? And how do you go about this?

Do you towel your bird or is he tame enough that he lets you handle his toes and let you do the clipping without him even noticing what’s happening?

 

[JerseyWendy]

I go about it in a VERY sneaky way.... :54:

Fortunately I've never had to touch Ripley's nails (yet). But Niko's needed a little bit of 'unsharpening' twice so far. Now he's really good about letting me handle him and touch him anywhere and everywhere, so I'm always able to clip at least 2-3 nails by simply putting him on his playstand and/or back of a chair, giving him some distraction, and quickly snipping of the tips of a few nails. But then he's had enough. So I put him in his cage, lure him close enough to the cage bars so I can grab a foot, gently pull it through the cage bars and finish the job. I repeat with the second foot. He can't bite me due to the cage bars being in the way, and I do it quickly enough that he doesn't 'resist' much. (NEVER yank too hard on the foot.)

I use SS toenail trimmers that are VERY sharp.

Oh, and he's VERY forgiving about the whole thing.

 

[SilverSage]

I use a towel and a variable-speed dremmel.

 

[ToMang07]

It took a bit of "practice," specifically at play time, but I eventually got Willow to accept being on her back. I generally let her grab one of my thumbs with her feet, then manipulate her toes so I can get the to an angle where I clip them. I use this bird-specific clipper I found at the local grain store. It's a miniature version of a dog/cat nail clipper. I've hit the quick 2x so far, I jut calm her and apply pressure with my thumb for a minute, luckily it clots pretty quick.

 

[mollybird]

Buford doesn't like it, but I use a nail file or sandpaper covered wood. I put him on his back in my lap with his head closer to me. He frequently grabs the file and complains, but I remind him that the more he does it, the longer it will take.

I've also use the file on my Leatherman. It's course on one side and very fine on the other.

 

[Captsteve]

I use a battery grinder. To be specific an amope foot sander.not too bad to do, have not needed a coat of armour yet.

 

[gracebowen]

Mine wont tolerate it so I got them pedi perches. My tiels have decided to sleep on theirs.

 

[Minimaker]

I was taking her the vet for nail trimming but my bird is scary. I'm not kidding you my avian vet is scared of my bird. By the time she's done trimming her she's sweating bullets and a nervous wreck. It takes two people to control her. I decided it would be less stressful for my bird and my vet to just buy one of these so now we do it at home. If we didn't use a towel someone would be dead and it wouldn't be the bird And afterward? Oh boy. She is NOT speaking to us until the next day. I tried nail files and clippers and that was a big "Yeah right!"

078129 500 000 Gentle Paw Nail Trimmer | eBay

 

[Kiwibird]

We use the special bird nail clippers. My husband restrains him and I clip him. He KNOWS what his grooming blanket he gets wrapped in looks like so when it comes out, he RUNS lol! He's not happy about it, but it takes under 2 minutes (and thats for nails and wings!). He gets treats and a bath afterwards. Kiwi only needs to be clipped once, maybe twice a year and his nails usually don't need to all be done at once (i.e. 2 or 3 will get sharp points where the rest haven't yet, so I just clip the sharp points). Occasionally, just one nail will get sharp and I can *usually* sneaky sneaky clip the sharp tip off without having to restrain him.

I am with Minimaker though about the vet/bird store- We used to take Kiwi to a bird store where a very gentle and experienced man would clip him. Still, Kiwi would fight so hard and panic so much about the stranger restraining him, the man eventually showed us how to do it because he agreed it was best we do it at home. I was genuinely afraid he was going to have a stroke or heart attack from the experience. He isn't happy when we do it, but is much less stressed because he trusts us not to hurt him.

 

[JerseyWendy]

I use a battery grinder. To be specific an amope foot sander.not too bad to do, have not needed a coat of armour yet.

ROFLMAO!!! Reading your reply literally made me spit coffee all over, Steve! NOW I know what that thing is good for, cause it doesn't do diddly for my feet. :32:

 

[Captsteve]

I use a battery grinder. To be specific an amope foot sander.not too bad to do, have not needed a coat of armour yet.

ROFLMAO!!! Reading your reply literally made me spit coffee all over, Steve! NOW I know what that thing is good for, cause it doesn't do diddly for my feet. :32:

Who has dinosaur feet now!!!! ROFLMAO!

 

[Birdman666]

I hand my bird to a professional bird groomer... then leave the area.

Come back and "console her" after it's all over.

 

[Mariar]

I just towel sissy, flip her over and clip away..she doesn't seem to mind, but I'm super quick about it. I clip nails and wings for a friends eight birds..all super mean and all super unsocialized, I've had to get stitches after clipping their birds. But if I don't do it who will.
Mark that's funny...letting someone else be the bad guy.

 

[Birdman666]

If I do it, they're piss-ey and nasty with me for a week...

If someone else does it, then they turn to me for comfort and cuddles when it's over... NOT EVEN A HARD DECISION!

 

[nicolino]

See Barbara Heidenreich nail clipping video clip . Youtube
'' training your bird for nail clipping'' . Its awesome and you can train your bird in three four days to accept nail trimmers. I did it in three days with my mac who was freaked out first time I showed him clippers.

Its quite simple
keep nail clippers close by his cage so he can see it for a couple of days.
then tried to offer treats while holding trimmers in same hand as treat.
Go slow , bird my by shy at first but eventually take the treat. Do this until he's comfortable when you play with him while holding trimmers in your hand. Do not rush take your time . Do it slowly little by little. Eventually when he is very comfortable, trimm !!!

 

[Birdman666]

I hand the bird to a groomer... Works like a charm every single time.

Captain Obvious at your service... no need to thank me, it's what I do.

 

[junglenutcracker]

Over the last couple of days, she’s been gradually getting used to me handling her feet and playing with her toes. Then when she gets relaxed I can manage to cut one nail at a time without her freaking out. Then I give her a little treat. It’s building that trust thing, again.

 

[Solo]

Phoebe always bleeds with clippers, even if it just tipping. I didn't like the idea of toweling every time her nails might need work as I would prefer it to be a better experience. So I taught her to offer her foot for filing. She didn't take to it at first, but then my mom came over and started filing my nails and it made her jealous(we did this on purpose with the same file) and she waddled over and stuck her foot up. What do ya know! [emoji2]