FINCHforum

Hi!

I have a question: Since you told me that maybe my shaftails have long nails and that´s why involuntarily they took their babies with them when getting out of the nest, I would like to know if I should once in a while cut my bird´s nails, even when they have pumice perches in the aviary? I have to tell you, I have never seen one of them trimming his nails. But I am not happy with the idea of cutting them, since I have done that with my canaries and the nails come up worst than before, with sharp ends.

I just got aware that I posted this in "Housing", and it shouldn´t be here. I don´t know if any of you can put it where it belongs (Health, breeding?)

The problem is in cages we do not have the natural environment to let them naturally wear down their nails. Some people use a concrete perch for that reason. But you do have to be careful what kind of "trimming" perch you use, as some are not good for the birds. I found my zebras will bleed if the pad on the bottom of their foot is abraded.

I don't have trimming perches.
I have to trim the nails/claws of my wife's canary about every 3 or 4 months.
My gouldians, some seem to do OK w/o a trim and others need to be trimmed. I do it when I notice the claw looking too long.
The societies, need their claws trimmed maybe every 4-6 months, or when I notice that it is too long. Tricky part with them is I have to do the trimming when they are between foster clutches, as I don't want to do it when they are on eggs or chicks.
The zebras seem to do OK and don't need their claws trimmed.

When you will need (if you need) to trim your birds nails will depend on each bird. There are some I have never trimmed and others that I trim about twice a year. It all depends on each individual bird and their habits. Best that you can do is periodically look at their nails and then determine if they need a trim.
Good luck