clipping claws

[bozzbozz]

Hi all,

Do you clip your birds nails yourself or do you take her to a vet and how often do you do it.

Thanks

[dblhelix]

Claw clipping is not necessary in most cases. The birds will care for the claws on their own, keeping them at an optimal length through trimming with their beak and/or if you provide perches that help file the nails. If you do need to trim, you should probably have an avian vet show you how to ensure you are aware of details to look out for. More often than not people clip the claws to make the bird more "comfortable" to hold, but this can result in birds that do not have the grip necessary to perch properly and lead to phobias. There are some cases where clipping is warranted, but I would not do unless advised by an avian vet. We have NEVER clipped our Amazons claws that we have had for over 38 yrs and have not needed to clip Kip that we have now had for 18 months.

[bozzbozz]

What do you use to file your birds nails. I did look into getting the sanded covers to go over the perch but was advised not to use them.

[judygram]

You should get the rough perches that are made of concrete or some substance that has a rough texture to keep the nails filed down, but depending on how much they use them they may still need a clip now and then. I have had to have Josey's talons filed down, she can keep them pretty sharp and when she spends some time on my shoulders she leaves scratches that look like I have been in a cat fight.

[Jane08]

We also do not clip our birds nails as he doesn't need it. He seems to look after them himself and we have perches that he runs around on that do it for him as well. The perches we use are made from calcium and this means he can also eat them. Another perch has a rough surface on it and we also have big tree branches in his cage.

[lovemyGreys]

AS the the other members have said, clipping the claws shouldn't be necessary ,make sure there is an array of different textured perches available for your grey.

[birdgranna]

Once my amazon got hung up in her cage from a claw that was too long.I felt terible. I have all my large birds claws and beaks done twice a year at the vet.

[DUKEdevils36]

I have been taking Duke to get his nails clipped to our local bird shop since he was a baby. He still hates having it done but shows no signs of a phobia maybe im just lucky or he is just used to it. But after he is done it takes him 15 mins to cool down he is his old self again.