Zaf's tip snip today (poor Zaf :'[)

[plax]

Aw, Zaf is such a brave little man.

Yep. He's one brave little blue man

 

[Featheredsamurai]

He's afraid of wood chucks! How funny! That's amazing you can do that, I would be afraid. I'm scared just cutting Rosie's nails.

You're such a good parront

When it's nail snipping time I just put him on the perch stand and he hands each foot to me. It's no sweat at all!

And thanks . I try to be his best friend... he sure is mine!!!

Rosie's fine for clipping her nails, she lets me lift each toe. I'm just afraid of hitting her quick and hurting her.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Rosie's fine for clipping her nails, she lets me lift each toe. I'm just afraid of hitting her quick and hurting her.

Since Rosie lets you do her nails so willingly, why not consider a dremel?

 

[MikeyTN]

When I snip Willie's beak, he started bleeding pretty good and it took me awhile to get the bleeding to stop after lots of corn starch. It's upsetting to watch but we know that it must be done. I was shaking so bad from watching him bleed and it kept me awake at night that I kept getting up to check on him throughout the night. I got him another concrete perch and he's been pretty good about keeping it trimmed since then. But I think it's time to replace it again cause I see he's damaging the one he's got now....

 

[ziggybird]

I can't get over how BEAUTIFUL Zaf is!

It's always so sad when you see them bleed. Even if it's for something like a beak trimming or nail clipping that is for their own good. But he knows you love him

 

[Jtbirds]

Try investing in a Dremel tool with a diamond bit. At the high speed they go they will not make him bleed. Get the concave tip so you can put a natural rounding in it. As well when dremeling look for a bullseye looking white circle on his beak that is the beginning of the quick. Obviously that means do not clip any further. Btw sceptic power burns and stings regular flour is better IMO.

 

[plax]

Try investing in a Dremel tool with a diamond bit. At the high speed they go they will not make him bleed. Get the concave tip so you can put a natural rounding in it. As well when dremeling look for a bullseye looking white circle on his beak that is the beginning of the quick. Obviously that means do not clip any further. Btw sceptic power burns and stings regular flour is better IMO.

I have a Dremel tool. This particular bird (Zaf) is terrified of certain objects, including the Dremel tool. He, unlike most birds, does not become desensitized to certain objects of which he's terrified. He's even terrified of his flight and tail feathers when they fall out and away from him. He will not become desensitized to them! He's simply idiosyncratic about certain things like that.

I've had Zaf for 8 years so I know the bird very, very well. He has no "white circle" on his beak tip - it's purely and consistently black! You can't tell where the quick starts other than from its shape and length.

And I'm well aware that styptic powder burns... my first choice in this case was corn starch, which I always keep on hand and try initially during bleeding situations. Often to effectively stop bleeding, corn starch or other flour substances require that they be packed into a wound. I tried that first but it didn't stop the bleeding this particular time so I went to my backup option, i.e., styptic powder.

I've owned large Macaws for 32 years, so I pretty well have a reasonable grasp on what works best for my situation.

But thanks for your concern

 

[Jtbirds]

Ah sounds like he's the big blue baby you sometimes hear about huh? I was not trying to tell you what to do I was unaware of what you may have tried so I was just giving some suggestions that I found worked and so on. Obviously there are many other remedies. I guess sadly he will have to bleed occasionally.

Btw he is beautiful and looks like a hyacinth that is in a ladies will for me. Same facial features and eyes.

 

[plax]

Ah sounds like he's the big blue baby you sometimes hear about huh? I was not trying to tell you what to do I was unaware of what you may have tried so I was just giving some suggestions that I found worked and so on. Obviously there are many other remedies. I guess sadly he will have to bleed occasionally.

Btw he is beautiful and looks like a hyacinth that is in a ladies will for me. Same facial features and eyes.

No problem. I just thought I'd explain more about our situation for you. Thanks for clarifying.

And thanks for the compliment about Zaf

 

[Jtbirds]

Anytime hopefully soon I will put up some pictures of my macaws(all 8 of them lol sometimes I wonder).

 

[Echo]

Most gorgeous bird ever!!! Stunning! I do wish he would allow the dremel, but indeed not many parrots are fond of it....and Plax being such a big guy, it would probably be more traumatizing to try and restrain him than to just clip the tip I presume. Boy! Better you than me though, I hate when they bleed!

Love to see his pics!

 

[goalerjones]

Plax, I hafta say this. When I first saw your species of parrot I did not find them attractive. I think it was the yellow ring around the eyes. But the more I see, the more stories and pics you share the more beautiful I find your bird.

 

[Alwese]

I hope you don't mind me keeping your Hy pictures. Those closeups of the eye skin detail are super so I can show others how a Hy is different. I have never seen a beak bleed, but I notice in pics of other Hys how really really long their particular beaks get; almost rams' horn wrap around long. I always let others do the beak trimming so my bird won't think I'm the "bad guy" It is amazing to me how just the area that was trimmed will regrow. If we smash a fingernail we have to wait for it to grow out. If we break a tooth we are just out of luck. With them, just the area that is 'damaged' from standard 'self repairs', like all the cells nearby know what is right and do what they have to do. God has made some amazing things.

 

[sodakat]

The only Hys I've seen in person were a breeding pair in a large outdoor flight. Their perches were 2x8s and their nest was a huge wooden barrel laying sideways up on a huge shelf at the back of the flight. The end of the barrel was covered with plywood that had a hole cut in it. The birds had enlarged the hole to meet their needs and every 2x8 board that spanned the cage was chewed in various spots, some almost all the way through. The owner said they replace the lumber perches frequently. Most of the lumber perches were chewed from the bottom up even though the birds sat on top when chewing.

They also had several large (huge) branches strategically placed and the bark had been stripped and part of the wood chewed, especially near the ends.

My LaFitte has broken his beak tip a couple times. I found that he likes to touch his beak tip to the sanding drum on my dremel tool! Apparently he likes the vibration. I just turn it on and hold it near him and he will lean his beak right on it. Very simple to take off a bit of the tip when needed.

 

[plax]

Plax, I hafta say this. When I first saw your species of parrot I did not find them attractive. I think it was the yellow ring around the eyes. But the more I see, the more stories and pics you share the more beautiful I find your bird.

How very strange... but okay. The yellow-skin eye ring around the seemingly black (actually very dark brown) marble eyes is one of a Hy's features which I happen to find the MOST attractive of all! It's a feature of such vividly beautiful contrast that I can't imagine anyone finding it unattractive . But each to his or her own.

 

[Echo]

Plax, I hafta say this. When I first saw your species of parrot I did not find them attractive. I think it was the yellow ring around the eyes. But the more I see, the more stories and pics you share the more beautiful I find your bird.

How very strange... but okay. The yellow-skin eye ring around the seemingly black (actually very dark brown) marble eyes is one of a Hy's features which I happen to find the MOST attractive of all! It's a feature of such vividly beautiful contrast that I can't imagine anyone finding it unattractive . But each to his or her own.

Same here! The stunning yellow with the amazing purple is what I find the most attractive. MAGNIFICENT!!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Plax, I hafta say this. When I first saw your species of parrot I did not find them attractive. I think it was the yellow ring around the eyes. But the more I see, the more stories and pics you share the more beautiful I find your bird.

How very strange... but okay. The yellow-skin eye ring around the seemingly black (actually very dark brown) marble eyes is one of a Hy's features which I happen to find the MOST attractive of all! It's a feature of such vividly beautiful contrast that I can't imagine anyone finding it unattractive . But each to his or her own.

I also used to think they were less attractive in terms of parrots, but over time they grew on me because of their personalty. Whenever I see them in person I still think they have really weird faces and funky beaks lol

I love Zaf though

 

[plax]

Plax, I hafta say this. When I first saw your species of parrot I did not find them attractive. I think it was the yellow ring around the eyes. But the more I see, the more stories and pics you share the more beautiful I find your bird.

How very strange... but okay. The yellow-skin eye ring around the seemingly black (actually very dark brown) marble eyes is one of a Hy's features which I happen to find the MOST attractive of all! It's a feature of such vividly beautiful contrast that I can't imagine anyone finding it unattractive . But each to his or her own.

I also used to think they were less attractive in terms of parrots, but over time they grew on me because of their personalty. Whenever I see them in person I still think they have really weird faces and funky beaks lol

I love Zaf though

Ever since my age was in the single digit range I've considered Hyacinths the most beautifully attractive, striking birds in existence. In my view, nothing comes close to matching the richness of their cobalt blue plumage or the stunning contrast of those spectacular feathers against their bright yellow skin highlights. Weird faces and funky beaks, you say? Nah. Their beaks and faces are both magnificent and adorable!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Ever since my age was in the single digit range I've considered Hyacinths the most beautifully attractive, striking birds in existence. In my view, nothing comes close to matching the richness of their cobalt blue plumage or the stunning contrast of those spectacular feathers against their bright yellow skin highlights. Weird faces and funky beaks, you say? Nah. Their beaks and faces are both magnificent and adorable!

I will NEVER forget the first time I saw a Hy in person. My jaw literally hit the floor. Books, magazines and/or online pictures do NOT do them justice.

Their overall color is out of this world, bluer than the bluest thing I've ever seen.

And when they look into your eyes, you simply melt....well...I did. I turned into putty!

 

[Echo]

Plax, I hafta say this. When I first saw your species of parrot I did not find them attractive. I think it was the yellow ring around the eyes. But the more I see, the more stories and pics you share the more beautiful I find your bird.

How very strange... but okay. The yellow-skin eye ring around the seemingly black (actually very dark brown) marble eyes is one of a Hy's features which I happen to find the MOST attractive of all! It's a feature of such vividly beautiful contrast that I can't imagine anyone finding it unattractive . But each to his or her own.

Same here! The stunning yellow with the amazing purple is what I find the most attractive. MAGNIFICENT!!

I say purple because to me it is such a deep exotic blue that it seems like there's purple hues mixed in. It's not a simple blue, am I right Plax? I only saw 1 Hy Macaw in person and pictures do not do them justice and don't really show their striking colors....... Then again I'm a bit color blind LOL