How can I safely clip a cockatiel's nails?

Question

I work in a retirement home. A year or more ago, a resident passed away and her family donated her cockatiel, Quincy, to the home for the other residents to enjoy. Quincy is TERRIBLY anti-social. The resident never gave him much attention, kept him covered over 12 hours a day, and never handled him. Quincy does NOT like to be picked up or touched in anyway. Even fingers near the cage are nipped at.

The problem is, Quincy's claws look horribly overgrown. They're long and curving and he gets his toes caught in the caging. I feel terrible for him but no one is sure how to handle him so we can clip them...or even if we're SUPPOSED to clip his nails this way.

How can we handle Quincy so he doesn't hurt us or himself while we clip those nails? (I don't want him stressed or injured...but I don't want my hand all pecked off either)

How should we go about the actual clipping? Should we even attempt it or should we leave him be? I don't want him uncomfortable but I don't want to be doing something you shouldn't do either.

Answer 1

Well, us we usually clip the claws carefully as not to touch the 'vein' we can kind of see through. It really helped them not to get tangled in fabrics. If you do try, keep some flour next to you. Flour really stops any blood from flowing if there's a cut(we used some a while ago after one of the parrots had a night-time panic attack and broke some of her blood feathers off). Also, it would be nice for the bird(less stressful and you won't get eaten) if you hold it in a towel. In the darkness, they're much calmer and they make less movement.

But I'd mostly recommend the clipping to be done by professionals. It doesn't cost a fortune and you could observe the process to try out the next time yourself.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Aw, poor Quincy :-(

It sounds like you really need to have his nails clipped but it can be difficult with an unsocialized bird if you don't know what you're doing.  And it's hard to know how long the vein in the nails might be now.  I'd really suggest you take Quincy to an avian vet for the trim and ask him to show you how to properly hold Quincy in a towel and how to properly trim his nails in the future.

To catch Quincy, take a tea towel or a hand towel and slowly but steadily back him into a corner.  Then you can wrap the towel around him to remove him from his cage and put him in a carrier.  Be careful not to hold him too tightly - he must be able to expand his breast with each breathe.  

To keep Quincy's nails in better shape in the future I'd recommend natural non-toxic branches or perches in a variety of shapes and thicknesses.  You might also want to include a grooming perch, typically made of cement or embedded sand.  Please don't use sand paper perch covers as these are really hard on the feet.

Good luck with Quincy.  And thanks for taking care of the little guy!

Colette

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Parro...

Answer 3

I take my African Grey to the vets for his nails cutting, that way I know it's been done right and I'm not going to hurt him. It only cost £5.00 to get them done.

I'd suggest you go see the vet.