I wouldn't be able to do it without restraining them.
So, would you do it in this case or not?
If you do it with restraining them, do they forgive you after that?....
I have to restrain some and some I don't. They always forgive me but not anyone else. The last time I took Willie to a vet to have it done he was friendly to the vet and went to her. That shocked me but after she was done trimming him she came to tell him to step up, Willie lounge at her and scream on top of his lungs.
We used to trim our grey's nails. We had made this papoose (sp) things with a piece of thin board Velcro and towel. Beau would chomp down in the towel while we did it, but he was always fine when we were done. I have someone else do Sammie because it's just easier and less stressful for me.
I've been trimming bird nails myself for as long as I've had birds - over 20 years.
My BFA is, by far, the most difficult and I do have to towel him to do it, but even immediately after it's done he doesn't distrust me for it.
I haven't had to have my greys nails trimmed for years. I have in his cage, a corner sandy perch, and that does the job. He also keeps his beak nice and smooth on it also.
I think if you introduce the nail clippers to them slowly you shouldn't have to restrain them?
Fargo was petrified when i first showed him the doggy nail clippers, he tried to get away from them!
So i slowly fed him around it, and then would just place near his feet, and just slowly work with him, one nail.. Give him a break..
Now he is absolutely perfect with them
He sits on the back of my chair, and just places his foot in my hand, and i can do each nail, and he doesn't move a muscle, just sits there perfectly..
and then i just file them down with a rough nail file and he is good to go!!
Lilac Crowned Amazon (Bacci- Forever on my shoulder, forever in my heart.)
Yellow Collared Macaw (Loki the Monkey Bird)
Military Macaw (Wingnut)
Citron Crested Cockatoo
(Knuckles)
My birds are babies, and I've been able to get them used to me filing their nails. Once a week or so, during play time, I will hold them close against my body while I'm petting them, and slowly do one nail at a time, giving treats as I go. Sometimes I can get all 8 before they have had enough, sometimes I have to stop and try again later.
I only clip the tiniest bit of my CAG's nails with nail clippers. The other birds don't really need it. All of our birds have rough perches, but they rarely ever walk on them unless they need to chew on something.
My baby really needs a trim but thus far he's very scared of the clipper and the file. I'm taking him to the vet on Friday and then I will have time to slowly get him used to the tools of the trade.