How to cut a parrot's claws?

Question

I have a parrot, she is about 10 or 12 years old and she has very very long claws. How can I get to trim those claws? If they keep on growing like this they might harm my parrot's own leg!
She's kinda agrassive, likes to bite. She has been caged for most of her life, not trained to hands.
Please,help me with this problem!

Answer 1

I do Parrot grooming, and what I tell my clients is if the bird's nails are very long first take the bird to a Vet and have them shorten to normal lenght, chances are if the nails have to be cut back a lot there will be a chance they will bleed, and the Vet will be able to stop the bleeding and then ask the Vet how to file and shape them so you can do your own grooming. With our birds I dont have to clip their nails all I have to do is use a nail file and just lightly file down the sharp tip. I make a game out of it with the birds I groom for my clients so that way the bird isnt that stressed out.

If I can be of any other help please let me know.

Sapphyre
Certified Avian Specialist
http://www.borrowed-rainbow.com
join our group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BorrowedRainbowAviary/

Answer 2

1. Make sure you don't cut the whole thing, because there are blood vessels up to a point. Just trim the edges, a hook form must remain. Use a nail clipper.
2. If you can't hold her take her to a vet. He'll catch her from the back with a glove and immobilise her. The palm goes on top of her back and wings, so she can't move them, and her head goes between your pointing and middle finger (without squeezing her neck or strangling her!). If she's to big, he might wrap her with a cloth, just make sure you don't do that alone and asphyxaite the bird.
3. Another solution is to do this if she is clawed to the cage, if you can catch the foot and clip it with a nail clipper.
Anyway, it is better to have an expert show you how to do it, because it could be dangerous for the bird if you don't know.

Answer 3

I agree with Sapphyre above.

When you have a problem bird and you need to handle it you get a thick towel and cover the bird with it not tight and move it off the birds head so he can breath. While one person is holding the bird in the thick towel you will feel him try to bite you through it. Double the towel if you have to. Leave an opening on the side or the area that you are going to be working on like clipping the wing. Go to a pet store and get a bottle of (I can't even think of the name of it at the minute) to clot the blood if you cut too deep or cut a blood feather. A blood feather you would pull out and then clot the blood. Some use corn breed mix or flower.

But do take your bird to the vet and have the nails clipped or ground back. You will watch and will understand how to do it next time. But don't try to make them bleed ok.........

I clip my birds nails but it is old news for me. My conure will lay on his back and let me clip or file his nails. He likes it. But the tiel will wiggle so I have to get someone to hold him. He don't bite just wiggles too much.

Answer 4

Since you don't have experience with trimming bird's claws i suggest you take her an avian vet. If they're becoming long enough to actually hurt her, you need to do it very soon as they are probably causing her some discomfort. After her claws are trimmed you can get her a sandyperch. They are sold in most pet stores and have sand on them so whenever your bird sits on it it will trim her nails a little. This will prevent them from ever becoming so long again. But at this point, her nails are so long that she needs a vet.

Answer 5

I have 8 birds at home and do all of my own grooming. It is not difficult, but there are many factors that need to be taken into account. Usually birds are toweled (wrapped in a towel appropriate for their size) so that there is room for them to breathe, but not wiggle around much. Their feet are then pulled out one by one and the nails are trimmed with either a drimmel (sp?) or with bird nail clippers (NOT Human nail clippers! The angle is different on an animal's nails). Styptic power or gel is used to stop bleeding if it occurs. Wings and beaks can also be trimmed and shaped from this position.

There are many factors to consider before you do it yourself.:

1. Do you have the right tools?
You will need either a drimmel (sp?) or nail clippers and a nail file. You will need a proper sized towel for your bird. You will need something to stop the bleeding (if you can't afford the powder or gel my vet told me that an equal mix powdered sugar and baking powder will work, but I believe the professional stuff is better). These are the things I make sure I always have with me when I groom my birds.

2. Can you do this safely without harming your bird?

3. Do you know how much of the nail it is safe to cut off?

4. Can you finish quickly enough that your bird wont overheat while in the towel (wetting the towel slightly helps with this)?

5. Do you have someone who can help you hold the bird while you groom it so that you don't get bitten?

I took a lot of time just watching groomers before I tried it myself. I got a lot of facts because as someone just watching you might not see everything they do (like wetting the towel to help keep them cool...I didn't see a groomer do that because he did it before I started watching). I would take your bird to a groomer simply because you haven't done this before. It is usually $5 for each thing you want done...wings, nails, beak. It can be as much as $25 for the whole combination. Not much to ask for making your birds life safer. You can usually find a groomer just by going to your local bird store. Petco and Petsmart don't groom birds (or at least they don't here). You won’t need to take the bird to a vet if you are clear with the person grooming your bird on the fact that she hasn't been groomed in a long time and will probably bleed and may bite.

If they try to use regular toenail clippers take your bird somewhere else. If they try to use anything other than a drimmel (sp?) on the beak take her somewhere else (I recently went to a store where they used toenail clippers on birds beaks...this is very dangerous as they can crack the beak and make them unable to eat or anything). You’ve been given a lot of information and help from everyone here. Take that knowledge with you when you go and get her groomed so that you can be sure she is safe.

Since you said she isn’t hand tame it will probably be difficult to transport her. Try using a dog crate or a special bird transporter that is clear all around and allows the bird to look out. You may have to lure her in with treats or something.

Polly's threaputic perch is also a good idea! It can help not only with making grooming visits less frequent, but it can also help with helping your bird not get arthritis.

Good Luck!

Answer 6

A rapidly rotating grinding stone is used to trim the claws and to shorten, shape and smooth the beaks of larger birds. The results are very professional and satisfying. You should not attempt to trim the beak,or claws of your bird. If you do attempt to trim the claws, you must have something on hand with which to stop any bleeding. These clotting aids are called styptics. Recommended styptics include Kwik-Stop (Animal Research Co), silver nitrate sticks, and ferric subsulfate (Monsel's solution).

best advice use a professional.

Answer 7

Take her to a bird shop. The expense of taking her to a vet is not warranted. My parrot will sometimes let you clip her nails when she's in the cage if she's perching next to the side. You can try to put her in a pillow case or wrap her in a towel to clip them yourself. It's best if she doesn't see you do it.
After you take care of the problem, get one of those perches that help them file down their claws and beak. It says "Polly's Pastels - the therapeutic perch" "Never trim your bird's nails again." Buy one that is appropriate for her size - it would be a large (SKU 210374 at Petco) or medium (SKU 210404 at Petco) .
One more thing. If you live in the UK and can't get that perch, I would be happy to send you one if you'll send me some decent tea!

Answer 8

just take her to the vet or groomer or some one they will do it i have budgies a smaller type of parrot sort bird and it's hard to cut there claws cuz u might cut the vain and make them bleed like nuts so if u don't want to take that risk go to a vet or some one yea it cost money but at least the bird wont be bleeding

Answer 9

definitely take her to pro. also, if the claws are that long, there's a chance her beak needs to be trimmed, too (my macaw normally gets claws & beak done at same time).

Answer 10

Go to a bird shop and ask for advice or the number of someone who can do this for you.