Nail trimming advice for a fiesty bird

[franklinealfalfa]

I own a cockatiel and would really appreciate some advice on trimming her nails. I am nervous to take her to get them done at a vet or a pet store because last time they cut too far and she started bleeding a lot. Alternatively, I'm nervous to trim them myself for fear of trimming off too much while she is squirming around. She does not like to be held and while we have been able to successfully trim her wings a bit by covering her with a cloth and my husband holds her while I trim....I'm afraid that if I try to keep her claws still I will break a toe. I've tried the sand perches but it does not help. Its been quite a while since her nails have been trimmed and I'm concerned that something needs to be done, I'm just not sure what with out hurting her; she is such a feisty one.

Thank you so much for your help/advice

 

[DustyBZoo]

put your bird on a flat surface. If it's nails prevent the toe from touching the surface it's too long. If the toe lies flat on the surface, leave it be or smooth it slightly with a dremel.

 

[Riley's mom]

If you are nervous about doing them, which is totally understandable, it is best to take them to a vet, not a pet store, to get them clipped. With black nails, it's hard to see the "quick", therefore sometimes they do sometimes bleed if the "quick" is hit. It is really not that big of deal. A little kwik stop and good as new. The more you clip their nails, the "quick" will go back. It works the same on any animal. you can always use an emery board and run it across the tip of the nails and take the tip off, but eventually the nails will get longer and will have to be clipped anyway. I do nails on dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, etc. on a daily basis at work and have yet lost an animal to nail trimming.

 

[HRH Di]

I would suggest going to a vet to do it, especially if it makes your bird nervous. I've tried to trim my Alexandrine's nails but he hates it and I don't want him to associate somthing distasteful to him with me.

RM is right about frequent nail trimming and the nail quick. Letting nails grow too long makes for more unpleasantness later. Regular trimming keeps everything in it's place.