Damien needs his claws cut

[Ria]

Could I do this myself? I have clipped my dogs claws in the past, he's quite easy to keep still. As you can see from some later pics of him, they are quite long now.

OH yeh he has always had this one shorter nail, that's white coloured; does that mean it's dead or something? He shows no signs of pain and is used to it now.

 

[Ria]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150613294240810&l=c541c65225

this photo shows the discoloured claw/nail As I said, no pain with it, it's always been like that!

 

[roxynoodle]

I don't know if all the claws should be black? But, from the picture it doesn't look unhealthy to me. Rowdy has one that's just the tiniest stub because one of her parents bit it off when she was a baby. She also has no pain or anything with it, so I wouldn't worry about it. It happens fairly often to baby birds when they are still in the nest box.

If you are going to cut them yourself, I would recommend having a helper. One of you can hold the bird while one holds the foot and cuts each nail. Try not to go too short and have some Quick Stop or corn starch nearby in case you cut one too short and need to stop the bleeding. It can be hard to do it all by yourself unless your bird will stand there for you cooperatively so you have both hands to handle the foot and cut the nails.

I did do a sinus flush on Merlin by myself the other day, but it was hard, and I probably should have waited for my neighbor to stop by and help. I bet for sure next week I will need another person as she will remember what happened and be less cooperative I bet.

 

[Ria]

Ahh, I can get my mum to help, thanks!
Damien I know will not be cooperative, and I am glad it is normal, I have always noticed it, just never thought to ask before.

Sinus flush? what did you have to do to her, bless her!

Thank you Roxy,

 

[roxynoodle]

I had to take a bottle of eye wash and squirt it into each of her nares. I found out her head and neck are much stronger than I had expected!

 

[roxynoodle]

4 hands is much better than 2 Especially if he balls his foot up to try to keep you from getting to his toes, or if he moves while you are trying to clip.

I also recommend getting a cement perch and placing it highest in the cage so he uses it. I haven't had to cut Rowdy's nails for more than 11 years. Rowdy and Merlin both sleep on theirs and use it for nail grooming and beak grooming all by themselves. Pete is still afraid of his though.

 

[Pedro]

I would also suggest a cement perch, they work a treat. You have to be so careful when clipping toenails as it's so easy to clip to much & make them bleed. I use a nail file to blunt the tips.

The white toenail isn't really out of the ordinary, a lot of parrots carrying the pied gene will have the odd white toenail.

 

[mcw009]

I've held my boys in bander's grip to cut nails. If he's possibly bitey I would definitely never do that though; you'd get a finger chewed off. I also spend an absurd amount of time holding birds and doing stuff with them in hand, so I might be more adept than most people. But it's an option. I usually don't clip all the nails at once if I'm doing that though. I think 3 or 4 quick unpleasant clipping sessions over a week or so is less upsetting than a single big session.

 

[lene1949]

What's a bander's grip?

 

[mcw009]

It's normally used for handling small wild birds. The bird's back is against the palm of your non-dominant hand and it's head/neck is between your index and middle finger.
http://naturalhistorynetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Trombulak.bird_.figure-2.jpg (courtesy google images)
Basically it's a very secure grip, the bird can't flap or hurt itself, and it gives you access to the whole animal for whatever you need to do. It's called bander's grip because it's most often used when putting on leg bands, but it's incredibly versatile.

 

[roxynoodle]

That is how I hold Rowdy for any medical type procedures, but I definitely can't hold Merlin or Pete that way. I'd still recommend having a helper for nail trimming though so someone can also hold the foot with one hand and the clipper with the other.

 

[mcw009]

That is how I hold Rowdy for any medical type procedures, but I definitely can't hold Merlin or Pete that way. I'd still recommend having a helper for nail trimming though so someone can also hold the foot with one hand and the clipper with the other.

Oh yea, a gray or amazon is way too big for that grip anyway. But a ringneck/conure-sized bird is fine if they're docile. I'm able to hold the toes with the same hand I've got the bird in and clip with my other hand, but it does take a bit of practice to be comfortable/dexterous enough.

 

[bluebudgie95]

I have a quick question. My parakeet, Baby, needs her claws trimmed. I've got all of them by myself without hurting her or anything and I'm quite proud of myself...except I can't get her back, inner claws while she's perched on my finger and she really really hates being picked up and will find any way possible to avoid it. Any tips?

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Remember that whenever unsure have a expert show you the proper way on your bird the first time

 

[dishgal1]

You really have to be careful with bleeding. I took only a really sharp tip off one day and it bled. I mean teeny tiny tip. I will never do it again.

 

[MacawGuy]

Dont cut them back to far cuz you can make them bleed. But if u fell that you can do it then go for it. but i would take him to the vet to get it done