cockatiels?

Question

We just got 1 male and 1 female cockatiel tonite they have really long toenails how much do we take off and not hurt them or should we have it professionally done

Answer 1

You can clip them with a normal nail clipper, but only do the tips bcs. you can clip into blood veins.

If you do decide to to it yourself, get a product called stypic powder, it will stop any bleeds.

Use clippers and NEVER SCISSORS. I cut a bird's toe off once. I had to go to the vet, it cost a bit of money, give him some antibiotics. He got restless and slipped his toe in the middle of the scissors.

I repeat: Use nail clippers that you would use to clip your nails.

And hold the toe near a light, so you can see where the vein ends, in the toenail.

And restrain the bird real well, so that the toe will not budge when you snip.

Another piece of advice, is to "Yell" at "mr. Clipper" and "Mr. Towel" of you use a towel to restrain him.

When you are done clipping and you yell at mr. clipper, the birds get this funny look on their faces. Just make sure you don't yell while looking at them. ... and don't yell too much, just enough to regain their trust, you and them, against mr. Clipper.

Also, take it easy, let the birds hang out at your house for a while, they don't know you yet. Clipping tonails is not misison essential.

Give them a concrete perch AND a calcium perch. Those perches keep my birds tonails down.

By the way, their names are Spike and Big Blue.

Answer 2

Hi Tammy.http://web.info-galaxy.com/Cockatiel/Care_and_First_Aid/Grooming/Nails_and_Beaks/nails_and_beaks.html this article is informative. If you do cut the quick, stop the bleeding by dipping the toe in cornstarch or stipend. Towel your bird and have someone gently but firmly hold the bird, be sure their eyes are covered. A breeder or avian vet can do this for you and teach you the technique. After the toe nails are clipped, using cement perches can help keep them short with wear and tear on the nails. may you enjoy your new friends.

Answer 3

If their nails really bother you you may have a professional show you how to do it and what you will need to have on hand to stop the bleeding should you cut it too close, but I think it would be a better plan to put special perches in their cage that will trim them naturally. The perches are kind of sandy and they grind the nails down. I have a cockatiel and have never trimmed her nails. I don't have special perches. Her nails don't bother me. My guess is that you are concerned that their nails will scratch you, but I doubt that it will be a problem. Do they hurt you, I wear a flour sack towel over my shoulder to keep her claws from scratching me and to catch the unfortunate presents she leaves behind. good luck.

Answer 4

I clip my birds nails myself, but I have someone else hold the bird in a towel so they don't get bitten. It wouldn't be a bad idea to have someone who is experienced show you how. I use cornstarch to stop bleeding if I get too close to the quick (the vein in the nail) and I use regular nail clippers (its easier to see what you are doing). I have read in several books and on websites that those sand paper perches are not good for birds. Not only don't they really help keeping the birds nails trimmed but they are too rough for their feet and can cause raw skin. There are alot of really good books and other resources on having cockatiels that will be alot of help.

Answer 5

There is a small vein in the nails. If you can see the vein; clip the toenails just beloe the vein.

You will need to get some quikstop or similat ro stop the blood if you cut the nail into the vein.

Answer 6

Have a professional teach you how to do it the first time.

Many bird owners use an electric dremel tool to file their birds' nails to prevent clipping too short.

If you decide to clip them yourself, make sure you have either styptic powder or a plate of flour or cornstarch to stand them in if you should accidentally cut too short. That will stop the bleeding.

Answer 7

I would leave this to a professional.I have seen first hand how easy it is to cut off their toes.Cockatiels are notorious for being extra squirmy and its very hard to hold them and cut the nails also.You cannot hold them around the stomach as they will not be able to breath and will suffocate.If you want to learn how to do it have someone with experience show you how and watch them very carefully.Good Luck!

Answer 8

I would definitely have it professionally done. What looks like too long to you might be just the right length.

You can buy perch covers that look like sandpaper that will keep their claws from getting too long. My mom has never cut her birds' claws (or taken them to get cut) and she uses the perch covers.

Answer 9

have someone do it. I have a cockatiel at home and I had someone do it for me.