Nail Clipping Safety Tips?

[EarthToEcho]

My bird Medoh's nails really need a trimming and while I could go to a vet, he just gets so nervous and shaky when we do that I'm worried for his health. I can do them at home (I have styptic powder and also used to clip dogs nails at my job so I know about the quick and how much to cut off). Is there anything else I can do to make it safer for him? I don't want to stress him out, but he needs a nail clipping to be healthy too.
Thank you!

 

[Lady Jane]

If you really want to clip nails at home then start teaching him to lift his foot into your hand for a reward. Some people train their birds to let them clip nails. That way its not as stressful. Try corn starch because it does not burn.

 

[Begone]

File them instead. If you cut to much it's not sure that you can stop the bleeding and you will need a avian vet ASAP.
To cut = Always use a avian vet or make sure you don't have far to one and that the clinic is open.
Ask @Macawnutz how to clip can be your worst nightmare.

 

[Lady Jane]

For me the birds were very stressed out with filing the tips and it did not last very long.

 

[Begone]

For me the birds were very stressed out with filing the tips and it did not last very long.

I file them every month and it's enough. If you train them it isn't stressful at all.
I will never cut them, I'm not taking the risk of loosing them. (and that is only with black claws)

 

[EarthToEcho]

File them instead. If you cut to much it's not sure that you can stop the bleeding and you will need a avian vet ASAP.
To cut = Always use a avian vet or make sure you don't have far to one and that the clinic is open.
Ask @Macawnutz how to clip can be your worst nightmare.

I'm pretty confident in not cutting too much off, I used to groom dogs (which yes is different, but they both have quicks)

 

[Begone]

I'm pretty confident in not cutting too much off,

How do you know that when you not can see the pulp?
The pulp can be 2 mm from the tip or 10 mm, but you never know until it's to late..

 

[Perriewinkle]

Get a course glass nail file for human nails.. file dont cut. It takes a lil longer, but tend to have less issues

 

[EarthToEcho]

How do you know that when you not can see the pulp?
The pulp can be 2 mm from the tip or 10 mm, but you never know until it's to late..

Taking of the tip can give you a good indication on where it is, there will be a black circle where the quick is and you can tell how close or far you are. Even then. just tipping the nails is safe. I wouldn't do it if I wasn't 100% sure .

 

[EarthToEcho]

Get a course glass nail file for human nails.. file dont cut. It takes a lil longer, but tend to have less issues

I'll have to try sometime! It's normally pretty difficult for him to stay in one place for long

 

[WeasleyLover]

I trim my 3 conure's nails myself. My three girls are all pretty good good about laying on their back in my hand, so it is a quick and easy process. They usually don't wiggle, so I can do it by myself. If your bird wiggles a lot, I would have someone else hold him for you while you trim his nails. I just trim the sharp tips as needed, I never go far down. It also helps that my girlies all have light nails, so I can see their quicks.

 

[Begone]

Taking of the tip can give you a good indication on where it is, there will be a black circle where the quick is and you can tell how close or far you are.

How?

 

[finchly]

I clip all of mine. The finches seem to grow a whole new length overnight.

The light colored ones are of course easier, on the dark ones I take just the tips. If you are trimming on a regular basis that will be enough. @Eloy I have never had one that was only 2mm away, usually much more. I have never quicked a dark nail but I have quicked a Gouldian finch when it moved its foot just as I clipped (light colored nail).

@Lady Jane LOVE that video. Thank you for sharing! I'm going to start that training right away. I have to towel the tiels, pionus and parrotlet, the little burrito boy, but trimming like this would be so easy.

 

[Begone]

I have never had one that was only 2mm away, usually much more. I have never quicked a dark nail but I have quicked a Gouldian finch when it moved its foot just as I clipped (light colored nail).

Akelas is. And it can start bleeding when I file too. If you cut that claw and cut right in the pulp it will never stop bleeding. That is why I always recommend to never cut a dark claw yourself because birds has so little blood and it can kill them.