Trimming Nails: The Most Stressful Thing EVER

[artgecko]

Yesterday I caught my canaries to give them their second treatment of scatt and to trim their nails. They came with very overgrown nails from the breeder three weeks ago and I figured I'd wait to trim them until I had to catch them so that I could do both at the same time.

I have bad eyesight, so my husband trimmed their nails while I held them over a flashlight to make it easier to see the quick in their nails. Unfortunately, he cut the quick on one of my clear hen's nails. I had cornstarch handy and thought we had stopped the bleeding, so we put her back in the cage, only to find a couple drops more, catch her again, put more cornstarch and pressure on the wound (for a good 1-2 mins. this time), then released her again. So far, she appears to be ok...No more bleeding, but she wasn't as active afterwards as she usually is. After that happened, my husband was terrified of hurting the other hen, so he left her nails a little long to ensure that he wouldn't get the quick. I don't think I've ever been this nervous about trimming nails, even when I was doing it on my guinea pigs who would squeal bloody murder when you touched their feet lol.

If you guys have any tips on how you trim nails, what clippers to use (to make it easier) or on what product will stop bleeding the quickest, I'd love to hear them. I'd also like to know how often you guys trim nails...I remember reading once a year somewhere, but am not sure that is accurate. I have installed a few sand perches in their cage to help them wear down their nails naturally, so I'm hoping that will help somewhat.

[cindy]

sand perches can be irritating to the bottom of the foot so watch that the bird does not get scratched on the sole of the foot, it will allow fungal and bacteria to enter the foot. the sand paper wraps are also really course and should be avoided.

I use a baby nail clipper (they make ones with little lights on them also). Keep a container of quick stop around, it helps to stop the bleeding fast.

I use a perch that only has the rough areas on it where the nails would touch the rest of the perch is smooth..helps some but not a lot

[artgecko]

Thanks! I had read to avoid the sand paper perches, but didn't know the actual sand / rough ones could irritate their feet as well. Most of the perches in their cage are natural wood branches with bark, with only two being sand, so hopefully that will not irritate their feet too much.

I will look for the baby nail trimmers.. We used a small size regular person nail trimmer (the small metal kind).

[cindy]

cat clippers work well too.

If you hold the bird like this there is less wiggling to get free

[artgecko]

Thanks! I will try that next time.

[Stuart whiting]

artgecko

When you get used to trimming birds nails it sought if becomes second nature,
I'm used to spending one particular day with me birds and would trim the nails of around anything upto 50 birds in one day,

The easiest way that I've found is to hold the birds foot upto a ceiling light bulb in the birdroom or in the house wherever yer birds are and you'll clearly see the vein in the birds nails,

Eventually with time you won't even need to hold em upto the light because you've become so used to doing it.

I use the normal human nail clippers but have also found the spring loaded small dog nail clippers good aswell,

If a vein should ever accidentally get nipped I've always got a box of matches to hand as a match can be lit then quickly blown out and apply the hot match head to the tip of the bleeding nail, this may make the bird flynch a little but this instantly quarterises the cut and normally stops the bleed.

[w.l.]

To me the worst part about nail-clipping is actually catching the birds, which are mostly in communal aviaries so catching the lot causes a lot of stress to all.
And as I keep a lot of munias, plus weavers and parrotfinches, I have to do it with most birds every couple of months.
Munia nails seem to grow like grass!

[Stuart whiting]

w.l.

Hi mate,

How you doing,

Yea yer not wrong there as I'd say that Munia and Mannakins claws are probably the quickest growing claws of all finches

[Shannylee]

I've often wondered how wild birds keep their nails under control. I watched my bird store guy clip an Amazon's nails yesterday. I don't know which is more stressful. The big guys or the ones with the teeny feet.

[wildbird]

I put small lava rock and sandstone on the floor and small stones in a reptile feeding dish with seed in it on the floor for foraging. Also you can get a lava rock from Petco that screws on to the side of the cage. If it is shaped right, they can perch on it, and this helps to keep the nails trim.

[artgecko]

I've tried to write a reply 3 times and it hasn't posted... Maybe this one will go through lol.

Thanks for your replies and suggestions! I will look into smaller nail clippers and possibly putting some pumice perches in their cage. I've used "lava ledges" for my rats before, but didn't know if that shape would work for birds.

Thanks again for your input!

[ac12]

I have senior citizen eyes, IOW old, so I use a magnifying visor to see the claws while I clip them. And LOTS of light.

What you did 2nd is best, cut shorter than you think, and cut again later. This avoids hitting the quick. This is especially the case with birds with dark claws, where it is hard to see the quick.

I usually do OK with the front center and back toes.
My problem is always with the side toes, where it is more difficult for me to get to the claw.

As for how often, I don't know. Some birds don't seem to need trimming, and others constantly. I just keep an eye on their feet, and if it seems like the claws are getting too long, I do a trimming session.