My canary has scaly feet and her claws are getting quite long. So the first part is are there any natural remedies I can use for scaly feet? The second is what is the best way to trim the claws as I heard if you do it wrong they can bleed to death.
2007-02-22 09:40:42 · 2 answers · asked by ang_23el 2 in Pets ➔ Birds
Scaly feet can be caused by mites. I would suggest you get your bird to the vet. He/she can show you how to trim the nails. It really isnt hard. You can see the vein in the claw. Clip the nail just in front of the vein. Just in case you get some bleeding have some styptic on hand to stop it.
2007-02-22 11:16:06 · answer #1 · answered by sngcanary 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am not sure what you mean by "scaly" feet. Birds naturally have tough "scales" on their feet. If you suspect that your bird's feet are unusually rough, I would say to take him to a vet.
Yes, when trimming his nails, you must be very careful. Be sure to have some flour or cornmeal on hand, because if you do cut too deep, both of these will help stop the bleeding. A bird's blood does not clot quickly, and they can easily bleed to death from even minor cuts. For my birds, I use regular nail clippers (make sure they are clean). It is easiest to wrap your canary carefully in a towel, so just his feet are sticking out. I usually have someone hold my bird while I do the clipping. You just need to trim the very tip of the bird's nails. On many birds, you can see the darker "quick" inside the nail, so it is easy to tell how deep to go.
If you get a sandpaper wrap for your canary's perch, it will help keep his nails worn down naturally, so you wont have to trim so often. Also, if you are still nervous about trimming his nails yourself, ask some local pet stores specializing in birds. Many of them trip wings and nails as a complementary service.
2007-02-22 19:20:47 · answer #2 · answered by AnneBonny10 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋