Tips for nail trimming

[ChocolateChipCookiez]

For as long as I have had Cookie (2.5 months) , I haven't trimmed his/her nails. I know I should have but I have tried (only once though). It's pretty hard to restrain him/her and even when we cover his/her head with a piece of cloth he/she still struggles. And his/her nails are black so I'm afraid of cutting too deep.

Any tips/tricks on how I can trim his/her nails?

Thanks in advance!

 

[itzjbean]

I just recently clipped my cockatiel's nails with my husband's help. I got bit SO hard but you have to do what you have to do.

My tips...

- It is a two player game, so have someone help. One person restrain the bird, the other clips.

- Make sure your bird is calm and relaxed or it will be a very stressful experience. If restraining with your hands is not enough and bird continues to thrash, use a towel to keep your bird still and keep wings folded in.

- Keep corn starch or flour and paper towels handy in case you cut too much off and the nail begins to bleed. Better to start with a little cut first and work your way up to taking more off in the future.

- Reward afterward with treats and time alone to settle down

Otherwise I would suggest also watching some youtube videos on how other people clip their bird's nails it could be helpful too.

 

[GaleriaGila]

I'd get help/demonstrations from a vet or experience person.

Also...
A long-term solution...
I really recommend getting those nail-trimming perches... they can eliminate nail-trimming, which was always so stressful for me and the Rb. It took a few years, but I eventually established a pattern/rotation that keeps him trimmed. I haven't had to do his nails in 20-plus years. I keep a dowel as the main "highway" down the middle of the cage, but the special cement/trimmer/textured perches are all over.
A few brands... but there are many: Polly's Sand Walk... Pumice Perch... Trimmer Perch...
Be sure to introduce them gradually: they're abrasive to their tender feet at first. I LOVE them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These are smooth on top and abrasive underneath. Very easy to install/clean, oo.
Sweet Feet and Beaks Pedicure Perch xsmall for parrots, Feather Fantasy
May take a while to get the right combinations/locations, but was worth it for me and the Rb.

 

[ChristaNL]

My sentiments exactly: *do* they really need trimming?


Those perches really, really help.
Especially an active bird won't need trimming at all.



Don't clip .... use a nailfile to remove the sharp tips, that is usually enough!
(Just beware: filing the same spot will get it uncomoprtably hot because of the friction - so alternate!)

Birds have by nature far longer nails than we think.

 

[ChocolateChipCookiez]

I just recently clipped my cockatiel's nails with my husband's help. I got bit SO hard but you have to do what you have to do.

My tips...

- It is a two player game, so have someone help. One person restrain the bird, the other clips.

- Make sure your bird is calm and relaxed or it will be a very stressful experience. If restraining with your hands is not enough and bird continues to thrash, use a towel to keep your bird still and keep wings folded in.

- Keep corn starch or flour and paper towels handy in case you cut too much off and the nail begins to bleed. Better to start with a little cut first and work your way up to taking more off in the future.

- Reward afterward with treats and time alone to settle down

Otherwise I would suggest also watching some youtube videos on how other people clip their bird's nails it could be helpful too.

Me and my brother tried to trim his/her nails but he/she kept thrashing around. How can I make him relax?
Also thanks for the reply

 

[ChocolateChipCookiez]

I'd get help/demonstrations from a vet or experience person.

Also...
A long-term solution...
I really recommend getting those nail-trimming perches... they can eliminate nail-trimming, which was always so stressful for me and the Rb. It took a few years, but I eventually established a pattern/rotation that keeps him trimmed. I haven't had to do his nails in 20-plus years. I keep a dowel as the main "highway" down the middle of the cage, but the special cement/trimmer/textured perches are all over.
A few brands... but there are many: Polly's Sand Walk... Pumice Perch... Trimmer Perch...
Be sure to introduce them gradually: they're abrasive to their tender feet at first. I LOVE them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These are smooth on top and abrasive underneath. Very easy to install/clean, oo.
Sweet Feet and Beaks Pedicure Perch xsmall for parrots, Feather Fantasy
May take a while to get the right combinations/locations, but was worth it for me and the Rb.

Thanks for the reply!



There are no CAVs where I am and the only person I know that is experienced is my brother.

I'd have to order a cement perch online and that usually takes a month or two (sometimes less) to be delivered and I kinda wanna trim his/her nails before that. Cause I keep on getting scratches from his/her nails

 

[charmedbyekkie]

I second Christa. For some birds, filing is less stressful.

When we first got Cairo, we just let him perch on his normal stand, and we would just pick up a toe ever so slightly to tuck a nail file (read: dremel for us) underneath to file down his nail. He was perfectly ok with it until I accidentally drew blood (my bad). All you really need to do it blunt his nails, and you should be fine.

 

[ChocolateChipCookiez]

I second Christa. For some birds, filing is less stressful.

When we first got Cairo, we just let him perch on his normal stand, and we would just pick up a toe ever so slightly to tuck a nail file (read: dremel for us) underneath to file down his nail. He was perfectly ok with it until I accidentally drew blood (my bad). All you really need to do it blunt his nails, and you should be fine.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention..I have tried using a file but he/she hates that as well. He/she will let me lift up his/her toe a little bit, but when I try to file his/her nails, Cookie moves his/her feet away from me.

 

[ChristaNL]

I always support/ hold the nail still of course (with my other hand), otherwise you are pushing and pulling on a fragile bodypart.
No wonder they will pull away if something is tugging and twisting.
I would run too!


This is all a lot easier on larger birds (but those nails also go in a lot deeper ;P )


I touch the feet a lot during every day- so they are used to it.
There is even a verbal command ( I borrowed the "Foot" from my horsriding friends) used when manipulating the toes or entire feet.

This is not something done in a few hours, but in the long run they decided to tolerate it. After that it is easier.
(Not always- they are their own parrots and may "not be in the mood for it" of course )
.

 

[ChocolateChipCookiez]

I always support/ hold the nail still of course (with my other hand), otherwise you are pushing and pulling on a fragile bodypart.
No wonder they will pull away if something is tugging and twisting.
I would run too!


This is all a lot easier on larger birds (but those nails also go in a lot deeper ;P )


I touch the feet a lot during every day- so they are used to it.
There is even a verbal command ( I borrowed the "Foot" from my horsriding friends) used when manipulating the toes or entire feet.

This is not something done in a few hours, but in the long run they decided to tolerate it. After that it is easier.
(Not always- they are their own parrots and may "not be in the mood for it" of course )
.

Thanks for the reply!

Maybe I'll try and file his/her nails again..If I can find it that is. (As I seem to have misplaced it). Heh..

 

[itzjbean]

After my nail trimming experience I have decided to start training/desensitizing my bird to being contained by gently placing my hand over his wings and keeping him still for a moment. Even a second or two and we're done and he is fine. But I think this will help a lot if I keep training him to be comfortable with being grabbed or restrained again. Getting bit is no fun.

 

[ChocolateChipCookiez]

After my nail trimming experience I have decided to start training/desensitizing my bird to being contained by gently placing my hand over his wings and keeping him still for a moment. Even a second or two and we're done and he is fine. But I think this will help a lot if I keep training him to be comfortable with being grabbed or restrained again. Getting bit is no fun.

Yes, getting bit is no fun.

Maybe I'll try to train Cookie to be restrained/grabbed. Surely that'll help with harness training or wing clipping or nail trimming ( I don't plan on doing so but if I'm gonna move I might clip his/her wings for safety measures )

 

[Donald2Chatara]

For as long as I have had Cookie (2.5 months) , I haven't trimmed his/her nails. I know I should have but I have tried (only once though). It's pretty hard to restrain him/her and even when we cover his/her head with a piece of cloth he/she still struggles. And his/her nails are black so I'm afraid of cutting too deep.

Any tips/tricks on how I can trim my dog dremel nails?

Thanks in advance!

What is better for your nails gel or acrylic?

 

[Jottlebot]

I trained my boy to accept nail filing while he is in his cage. He climbs the cage and stays while I do it as long as I feed him lots of treats!! I can't get bitten though.

Also I have always used nail trimming perches, but I don't like ALL of his perches to be rough or he scratches up his lovely beak when he cleans it. I bought 2 little flat perches with sandpaper on them and they are brilliant!! I put a foraging toy so he has to stand on them and he files them down fantastically himself. I can't recommend them enough