Gold Breasted Waxbills - Tips for nail trimming shy birds?

[lindsey]

I recently became the proud caretaker of two gold breasted waxbills! They are so charming and fun to watch. However, they are very shy birds and become very frightened whenever I approach their cage. I'm not looking to hand tame them necessarily, but I would like advice on how to get them more used to me; they both need their nails trimmed and I would like to do it in a way that won't scare them half to death. Is there a way to trim their nails that would be less stressful for them? I've never trimmed nails on a pet before, and I would hate to accidently hurt them.

[Sally]

Because they are waxbills, they may remain pretty flighty, it is simply the way they are. They often don't calm down much. Here is a link to an article on nail clipping, which includes a video demonstration:

http://www.finchinfo.com/health/trimmin ... _beaks.php

I use a pair of cuticle nippers and a magnifying glass that hangs around my neck (sold in crafts stores). You will need good lighting, and have something like Blood Stop or cornstarch or flour on hand in case you need to stop bleeding. It is nerve-wracking the first time you do it, but it gets easier each time.

[wildbird]

To help them keep their nails trimmed, you could add some rough stones to their cage floor. I also use some lava rock pieces that you can buy at Lowes or Home Depot. They sell it by the bag for landscaping. Petco sells lava rock with a screw in it to attach to the cage for beak trimming. I bought one that was fairly flat and attached it high in the cage for a perch. They love it. Place them where the bird is likely to perch, or put some in a foraging dish.

[lovezebs]

lindsey

Congratulations on your new Goldbreasts, they are lovely little birds.

In order to cut their nails, you first have to make sure, that all windows and doors are closed, and that no other pets have access to the room you are in. This room preferably should be small with no air vents or spaces under the door, which they can fly into or underneath.

The only way to do this, is to grab them one at a time and hold them ggently but securely in your left hand if you're right handed (or vice versa). Hold their little foot between thumb and forefinger (against a light or beside a bright window so as to see where to cut, so that you don't cut into the little blood vessel. Personally, I use a baby nail clipper, and do it as quickly as possible (to stress them as little as possible).

As Sally mentioned, it can be pretty scary the first time, but you get used to it. I find the worst part is trying to catch the little guys.

Something that you have to watch, when catching them, is that they don't go right through the bars of your flight cage. They can squeeze through, or attempt to squeeze through and get stuck.

Regarding getting them used to you (after the ordeal).
I just like to park a chair beside the flight and sit there quietly, right after giving them fresh food and their bath. If you have enough time and patience, they will come down eventually, to sample what's on the menu and to take a bath.

Goodluck

[erine]

I always do stuff like that in the bathroom (toilet lid closed, obviously) because they are confined and no furniture to fall behind in case they do get out. Mine are super flighty as well and I think that's just their nature.

[lovezebs]

erine

The wash room is a good place, but be super careful, if you have a bathroom fan vent in the ceiling, with a plastic cover over it . The openings, are large enough for little birds to fly right into it.

Also, be careful, if there is a space between the door and the floor. I lost a fledgling Gouldian chick that way, when he got too close to the door . My cat, reached right through that space and swiped him. Needless to say, the outcome was not good.

[erine]

lovezebs Thanks, I totally would never have thought of the bathroom fan. I thought to put a towel down by the door but I'll have to check the fan out. Thankfully my only escapee thus far has been a canary and she was easy to catch!

[cjkrit]

Also keep in mind that their natural habitat is grasslands and alongside rivers, in other words they mostly sit on vertically positioned objects.
It is very important to supply perches in the vertical position. Bamboo and other grasses will work - doing this will reduce the frequency of nail clipping.

[Brette]

I've owned Goldbreast waxbills for about 6 years now and mine are in a room with lots of action and they seem A-okay with this. I'm not trying to get them to breed, they would need quiet for that I think. They have become less flighty since I bought them second-hand about 6 years ago but I doubt they will ever be completely chilled out.

Their nails grow faster than any bird I've had. I usually wait until they are tucked in for the night and I grab them with the lights off then bring them into a lit room to trim their nails. This seems to minimize the panic almost altogether.

[Derk]

cjkrit

natural habitat is grasslands and alongside rivers, in other words they mostly sit on vertically positioned objects.
It is very important to supply perches in the vertical position. Bamboo and other grasses

Excellent reminder. I had a chestnut breasted mannikin and I was surprised to find out how hard the grasses are on their nails and that is why they grow so fast. Although I have started adding bamboo to all the cages just for fun, I did not realize the necessity of it for GBW. What size diameter/s do you recommend? It grows on my property so I have lots to choose from.

[cjkrit]

Mary,
I do not have any scientific information.
I would suggest from as thin as 3-4mm up to 12mm. [half inch]
This is a pure guess but basically anything will work well.

Regards

[Derk]

cjkrit Thank-you.