Should we cut their nails?

[maru]

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.

[maru]

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?)

[ac12]

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.

[debbie276]

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