Why does my new budgie have razor sharp talons, perhaps he is really a bird of prey?

Question

they are so sharp they penetrate my skin.

i might as well be on heroin, injecting into my fingers. that seems to be the impression my friends are getting.

i cut them myself. the budgie was already traumatised enough after massively clipping the wings so upwards flight is impossible, so i proceeded to cut a couple of claws, but not all, he needs some grip

Answer 1

They do have sharp nails so that they can grip and stand properly. Bring budgie to the vet for an occasional trim of the nail. Do not do it yourself for the first time.Get the vet to show you because if you cut the quick, it will bleed and the bird will be traumatized and may not want to let you clip it again.

Answer 2

Sandpaper perches are a thing of the past. It just isn't done any more.
The best way to judge a situation you are trying to figure out for your bird in most cases is the following:

Would I like that? Would I find that comfortable? Would I eat or drink that?

If you wouldn't drink the water in his water dish, change it. If you think his fresh food is looking slimy and you wouldn't eat it...get it out of his cage. If you wouldn't spend a night in his cage because it's too dirty, clean it.
And if you wouldn't like standing on sandpaper or those cement perches 24 hours a day in your bare feet, don't make him do it.

I realize The Hartz Mountain Company still makes those ridiculous sandpaper perches, and still packages grit for a ton of birds that not only don't need it, but can possibly hurt them. That doesn't mean it's good for them. This is Corporate America. And the Public is somewhat slow to picking up new information unless they seek it out.
Sandpaper perches were the norm until about 15 years ago. They have since seem foot problems in many birds who have to use them. The Industry grows and learns and puts out new information.
But the Hartz Mountain Company still sells sanpaper perches. Why? Because they are making an enormous profit on people's lack of information.

Remember Robert Stroud- "The Bird Man of Alcatraz"?
He wrote his book: "Stroud's Digest on the Diseases of Birds", published in 1964.
For the most part, the remedies he advises wouldn't be used today. Science has gone futher. Yet he pioneered the work going on today in the field of Avian Medicine.
So progress happens and we learn as we research.
Don't stick with old thinking...your birds will be healthier for it.

Answer 3

Get them trimmed at the vet.

As far as sandpaper perches are concerned, STAY AWAY!

As a vet assistant for 10 years, I have seen little birdie feet ripped up by these bad ideas. They may work for some, but I have seen the fallout from the little birds who didn't have such luck.

Budgies have very sharp "nails". Get the vet to help!

Answer 4

Try putting a bunch of sandpaper covered perch covers on the perches ,they sell them at hartz mountain pet supplies at most grocery stores, they look like little brown cigars and you slide them on or since they are split lenthwize,open it to fit most size perches,maybe put a piece of heavy grit sand paper in the bottom of the cage,where he or she can walk on it n smooth the points down. Good luck,I had 6 birds at one time n the last one passed away last summer,I miss them,but I still have birds I can watch out my windows that I fed n watch.Dee

Answer 5

Never use sandpaper!!!! That is the worst answer I have seen. Sandpaper is dangerous to birds. If its nails are that sharp then either find a Bird Breeder or a Vet and ask them to file the nails, it only takes a few minutes to do.


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


If you need any other help please contact me.

Answer 6

That's because it's a bird. How else is it supposed to hold on to stuff?

Rawlyn.