Need tips on having to trim Cockatiels nails?

[ParrotGenie]

With the cockatiels it always stressful for me and them to have to trim their nails and usually just let the vet do them, or have a lady that I pay to cut their nails for me. Last time I tried I didn't cut to much as stop before the quick and only cut below it, as was very careful only one nail bleed a little, used a people nail clipper to do them, but Fiesco and Pepper had a hard time for the first couple days climbing bars of cage and they ended up resorting to flying to perch instead, so felt bad as knew I must have did something wrong, maybe not at proper angle? So just ended up after that paying other people to do them for me after that.

The issue is trying to figure out a better way to do their nails. Due to them being smaller size can't use a Dremel, or emery board, like I do with the larger birds and larger birds usually will put foot out and don't have to restrain them. Vet as well use a people clipper to cut cockatiels nails, but wonder if a better option for trimming them? Plus they hate nails being cut, so requires 2 people one to restrain them, while other cut the nails. I tried concrete perches and swings, but they don't do much to wear down the nails, it buys about a extra couple of weeks of time if that, they do go on them. The issue is they are out when at home, so concrete perches are of limited use and they sleep on the wooden perches mostly.

 

[itzjbean]

Ember my male cockatiel has to get trimmed about once every 6 months by us, his nails get so long and he likes to sit on our shoulders so it feels like little needles when they're too long.

It's always a two-person process here at our house. We make sure bird is comfortable sitting on my hand for a while and I slowly put my hand over his wings to restrain him. I hold ember down (while he stands on my finger) and then let husband pick up each toe and clip with a regular fingernail clipper. It's quick, easy and he's back at it within a minute.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

I haven't ever tried to clip Amy or BB's nails,I just don't have the confidence in myself to do it properly I USED to take Amy to the local pet shop ( They did it free because I'm a "preferred" customer!) and the girl who usually did Amys nails has her own fid's and does them herself. The last time she wasn't there and some !@#$%*^% a-ho and "assistant" butcher him! He made Amy CRY!! He cut three too short and made them bleed and the "assistant" was nervous/unsure how to hold Amy,which made Amy squirm and fight!
I ended up SCREAMING at the guy and left! I took Amy to the coffee shop for a treat ( a plain munchkin donut) which he wouldn't eat cause he was holding his foot up and still crying ( it took almost two hours before he would put any weight on that foot) I went back up to the pet shop and gave that person another round of it!

Ok I'm getting off-topic here...sorry! With BB's nails being so small and all,I gladly pay the $24 for their CAV to trim them,and she gives both of them a quick visual looksie,plus Amy likes the car ride..win-win for all concerned


Jim

 

[Alehner529]

This is going to sound super stupid, but I had to do my sun conure's nails, and knew she'd never let me do them without her being restrained. So I gently held her, and put her head first into a pringles can ( coffee thermos would work too ). With her head and wings safely restrained, I could clip her nails with a human nail clippers. She didnt really even know what was going on and afterwards acted like nothing happened. I use this technique on small birds of prey too for banding them for work. The dark enclosed space keeps them nice and quiet.

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[adrellack]

I take my cockatiel to the pet store where I bought him. They hand raise birds and know a lot about caring for them. It's cheap and I can also get his wings trimmed if needed. I wouldn't do it myself...too stressful.