upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

My babies toenails have gotten so sharp, till they have become a real problem just sitting on my arm or hand. (Can you say needlepoints) I'm pretty thin-skinned anyhow, but just wonder how many of you try to file nails, or clip them? I've only had to clip Smokey's nails one or two times when he started getting hung up on clothing or the carpet, but I'm beginning to look like I've been in a cat fight, and the cat won As long as I'm asking that question, how many don't do anything?

Cheers!

Sam

I usually clip nails when they get to feel...like you say...needlepoints. I have a special clipper I use...but a nail clipper works too. I also tried the Dremel tool to flie down the nail...but you really have to know what you are doing or you can easily file too much away in a split second. One nice thing though is if you get to the blood supply the dremel usually cauterizes it because of the high speed and heat it creates. So you have some choices other than a Vet. My hubby holds the birds for me while I clip and I keep the Styptic powder ready in case of beeding and flour or cornstarch will work also. Good Luck!

Here is part of an article about clipping nails FYI:


Clipping Nails

Nails need to be clipped when they are becoming snagged on toys, cage covers or clothes. I use a human nail clipper or baby nail scissors, and take off just the tippy-tips.

All nails have a blood supply. If you nick into this blood supply or quick, have some Quik-Stop or Stay on hand. If you do not have these commercial products on hand, flour or corn starch will work. Apply this with gentle pressure until the bleeding stops. Occasionally the nail gets cut too short and these products don't work. I like to use silver nitrate sticks to stop any bleeding. They are available from your avian veterinarian.

The proper size perch can help keep nails at the correct length. The tips of the nails should touch the perch. You can also use concrete perches, pedi-perches, sandy perches, hard wood perches or any of the other conditioning perches available today. Using a variety of perches also helps the bird stay comfortable since they are on their feet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It also helps to prevent early onset arthritis.

I'd thought about using a diamond nail file that I use on my own nails. It cuts pretty quick, and would not take many passes to take the point off. I don't know if I could get my wife to help using a dremel tool, but that would be the fastest way without making the bird struggle so long. My problem is I almost have to do everything myself. Wife just gets too scared any time there is restraining involved, and I know she couldn't use the dremel tool. Maybe she could use the nail file.

I'd read many articles about using rough perches, i.e., sandpaper, stone, etc., and most agree it is not a good idea, due to the abrasive effects on the feet themselves. Ideally, a stone or sandpaper toy would probably be enough to keep those points at a less dangerous stage! I'm not afraid to clip, but without a steady hand holding the foot /nail, good chance I'd get into the quick, which I don't want to do. It hurts... I'll give something a try or I'll have to start wearing leather gloves and shirts

I'm too much of a chicken to clip anything on my birds but I have a friend who will clip them, wings and nails, when he comes over. If he doesn't come over for awhile we take which ever bird needs it the most to the pet store where I got Twinkie-Dink and the lady there will clip everyone for free! I'm so lucky. She's awesome. It's a mom and pop bird store and we buy almost everything for the birds from them so they in turn offer this free service.

The nail file should do it!

Good luck. I've never been able to file my bird's nails. They hate it! We just clip here.

My bird's nails seem fine. He has a concrete perch in his cage. The concrete perches are supposed to be good for their feet and not too rough on them. I heard the sandpaper ones are bad, too rough on their feet.

I think I'll give the dremel tool a try this morning. The file bit is very difficult because the nail is so small, hard to hold it still enough to do any good. With the dremel tool stationary, I should be able to just touch the nail and knock the point off. If I learn any really good tricks to doing it, I'll definately share.

Apologies to follow up my own last post, but thought I'd share my experience using the dremel tool on Gizmo's nails. I used the flexible shaft handle for the tool, which is much smaller than the whole tool, and it makes much less noise. I let all of them hear the motor running on low for a few minutes before starting, and none of them spooked at the sound. I messed with Gizmo a few minutes before grinding, but when I went to restrain him, he wiggled and squirmed so badly, it took me about 6 tries to get all of his nails de-pointed. I was using about a 300 grit round wheel, about 1/2" or maybe 3/8" diameter, turning at the slowest speed. I just touched the nail tip to the wheel, not long enough to generate any heat at all, nor to do more than just dull the very point. I'd guess I might have removed maybe .0050" on all. Of all his nails, there was a short front nail on his right foot that a drop of blood formed on just as I touched the wheel. It did not bleed, but wow, the blood supply is all the way to the tip of the nail. I couldn't have removed more than the thickness of a sheet of paper, or maybe 2 sheets. I'm thankful I did not try to clip them, as I'd have gotten blood from all probably.

I figured Gizmo would be mad at me the rest of the day, but as soon as I finished, I cuddled him up, and told him what a good boy he was, gave him a special treat, and he seemed happy, but extremely tired. He nearly went to sleep on my shoulder, so I know it had to be very stressful for him. I guess at this point (pun intended) I'll just grin and bear it. Not a recommended proceedure for the squeamish or skittish.

Perhaps I'll investigate other methods of nail filing, like letting them walk around on 400 grit auto body paper when they are on the floor, or some other type of very mild abrasive.