How To Trim A Bird's Nails

Trimming your bird'south nails might exist the well-nigh nerve-racking part of owning this pet, specially when it'southward your first time. Of course, your vet is ever at that place to help and will requite you personalized tips for your item animal. Additionally, nosotros recommend you leave pecker trimming to the pros — a sideslip could cause your bird to lose more than blood than he tin survive. But the toes are a bit easier, and with a solid checklist, y'all'll be able to handle it no problem. Here's how to trim bird nails in half-dozen easy steps.

Bird perches on owner's hand — MF Evelyn/Unsplash.com

Set upwardly your salon

Ever get everything set earlier yous take your bird out of his cage. Yous will need:

Ii towels
Nail clippers or file
Trash tin can
Clotting powder
Flashlight
Treats

Spread ane towel out over your workstation and set all your tools within like shooting fish in a barrel reach. While homo clippers piece of work merely fine for many birds, y'all can also buy peculiarly fabricated bird boom trimmers .

Almost importantly, take a powder ready to get in case you nick your bird, which can happen fifty-fifty if you're super careful. Household items such as cornstarch will suffice, only for best results, catch some styptic powder.

Prep your bird

We know he's probably gonna freak out a bit when you kickoff the grooming procedure. Try to ease him into it by treatment your bird oft and getting him used to being wrapped upwardly in the towel. Y'all tin certainly practice this in advance without bringing out the dreaded clippers.

Hold him carefully

It tin can assistance to have another person aid with the procedure, simply your bird volition also do a lot of the piece of work. Swaddle him gently with the towel (non too tight) and allow him to grasp your paw, even if you have to wait a while. The towel will both give you a better grip and act as a security blanket, protecting your gentle bird. Give him some fourth dimension to adjust before diving into the process.

The vet sharpens the claws of the parrot. — Stanislav71/Shutterstock

Prune one at a time

Once you have him in position, gently raise up a footling toe and begin the trimming procedure. Here'southward where the flashlight comes in. If your bird has light-colored feet, yous might encounter the quick when y'all smooth the light on him (be conscientious to avoid his sensitive optics). Simply darker nails mean it will exist next to impossible to find. Remember the expression "cut to the quick": That's what you don't want to do. Even if you do discover it, you should always cut a tiny chip at a time to ensure you don't get anywhere near his blood vessels. Filing can likewise help go along you far away from the danger zone.

Know when to terminate

It happens even to the best of the states — you may get a little blood. Stop cut immediately (even if y'all're partway through a nail) and apply pressure level to the wound. Gently rub your powder on the area, which will go a long way toward stopping the bleeding. Clean upwards whatever claret with your towel and save the rest of his claws for another day. Even if your bird'south a chatterbox, he won't necessarily communicate that he'due south in pain (in the wild, this would lead to his becoming someone's supper, after all). It's your task to look actually closely for signs of distress.

Shower him with praise

You end the job successfully and put him dorsum into his muzzle. It may seem like you were the one who went through the trenches, just your little avian is probably a bit on edge. Advantage him with copious treats and head strokes. Remind him what a good male child he is (and maybe sneak a chocolate bar for yourself).

You'll need to repeat this process most every month or and so, and nail growth can vary depending on nutrition and species, so bank check them frequently. If you lot like to have your birdie ride on your shoulders or perch on your finger, yous might increment the bird blast trimming to every 2 weeks for your own comfort. Avoid the scratchy sandpaper or concrete branches you lot might come across. These tin shred his nails or cause sores on his delicate feet, just cuttlebones are okay for most species. Once you've done it a few times, both of you will take no problem with this routine.

Editors' Recommendations

This is how you become rid of black bristles algae in your fish tank
Why do birds sing in the morning? At that place are 2 clever reasons for information technology
The best low-maintenance fish to keep yous company in your office
Why do birds wing into windows? The truth is kind of sad
The reason parrots and other birds bob their caput