Best perch for shortening nails?

I was wondering what the best perch would be to file doen Lola's nails. I can't find any avian vets in my area to clip her nails (Im still looking though). Plus, I work in a Petsmart grooming salon so I know how much dogs bleed when you cut the nail too short, I cant imagine a bird bleeding that much. So, I would rather shorten her nails without clipping. I need to do something with her nails though because every time she steps up her nails break my skin. What are the best perches to help file down her nails?

We just covered this a couple of days ago,http://www.parrotforums.com/questio...oe-nail-too-short-bleeding-off-2-3-hours.html

Oh, I didnt see that. Thank you I will check it out.

SlashGash said:

I was wondering what the best perch would be to file doen Lola's nails. I can't find any avian vets in my area to clip her nails (Im still looking though). Plus, I work in a Petsmart grooming salon so I know how much dogs bleed when you cut the nail too short, I cant imagine a bird bleeding that much. So, I would rather shorten her nails without clipping. I need to do something with her nails though because every time she steps up her nails break my skin. What are the best perches to help file down her nails?

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Please give location, will try assist you

I see you are in South Jersey. I know of 2 places that groom birds (no, they are not vets, but they SPECIALISE in parrots).

In Blackwood, NJ there is Fancy Feathers & Bird Paradise in Burlington, NJ.

I have tried Kiwi with some cement perches over the years (more for perch variety and texture than nail trimming), and they do absolutely nothing for his nails. He uses them occasionally to get where he's going, but he doesn't sit on them or anything. I have heard numerous times they irritate their feet, so that's probably why he doesn't get on it much. Seriously, you can put the best cement perch out there in your birds cage, and if they don't step on them very frequently, they're basically useless. Think about how many times you have to "swish" the file back and forth to do anything when your filing your nails with a nail file. Parrots have far thicker nails than us, and they aren't going to instinctively give themselves manicures. Imagine how many times a day your bird would have to step on that perch in exactly the right way for it to file a talon down?

While I understand you need an avian vet for treating sick or injured parrots properly, any vet really will be able to clip talons, and will have styptic (stops bleeding) on hand if they clip too short. Some pet stores even do it. Just one more thing, if you don't have a local avian vet, what if your bird gets sick or injured? You really need to look into that. Many rural areas too small for a dedicated avian vet have exotic animal vets who can be quite experienced with birds, they just also treat reptiles and other animals that aren't dogs and cats too. Maybe look into if there is a local exotic vet you can take you bird to?

Antoinette- I live in Southern New Jersey.

JerseyWendy- Thank you! I live right by Blackwood so I will definately check out Fancy feathers!

Kiwibird- I realise that I need a vet for Lola in case she is to get sick or injured, thats why Im not going to stop looking for one. I just havn't found one as of yet.

I use to use cement perches but they seemed to make them sharper. I use the safety pumace perch with Rosie, in two days her nails were no longer sharp at all and I never have to cut her nails I love the pumace perches and recommend them often.

And if you ever need a good Avian Vet, I strongly recommend NorthStar Vets. I LOVE Dr. Doolen.

NorthStar VETS is a NJ 24 Hour Emergency Veterinary Hospital

Hey JerseyWendy,
I live in central nj and im looking for an experienced vet. Clancy needs his nails trimmed and I want to make sure they are done properly. I looked up NorthStar wasn't sure if they did nail trimmings and its also about an hour away. You wouldn't happen to know of a place you could recommend to us closer to me would ya? Most appreciated.

My vet never clipped Auggie's nails, but used the dremmel "sander" instead. Don't Petsmart groomers still have these as an option for dogs still? If you habituate them to the little noise they make, these can be used with birds.

Auggie's Dad said:

My vet never clipped Auggie's nails, but used the dremmel "sander" instead. Don't Petsmart groomers still have these as an option for dogs still? If you habituate them to the little noise they make, these can be used with birds.

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I think there are websites that now sell sanders for birds' nails ... a Google search would probably locate them.

I like sand perches. They did for my greys what I couldn't within 24 hours.

I have a cement perch about 1-1.5" thick and my DYH started hanging upside down on it so it grins his nails down. And this is after i bought a clipper and quick stop and was training him to let me hold his foot for a few seconds so i can clip it. his nails are dull now.

ClancyTheAmazon said:

Hey JerseyWendy,
I live in central nj and im looking for an experienced vet. Clancy needs his nails trimmed and I want to make sure they are done properly. I looked up NorthStar wasn't sure if they did nail trimmings and its also about an hour away. You wouldn't happen to know of a place you could recommend to us closer to me would ya? Most appreciated.

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I'm sorry I missed this until now. Yes, they DO groom the nails and beaks if necessary at NorthStar, but you'll be paying vet prices.

Bird Paradise in Burlington does grooming fairly inexpensively, AND with a coupon you can get it done for free

There is Angel's Bird Jungle in Eatontown, and my GF takes her fids there for grooming. They use the dremel.

I just happened to see this, Clancy, and not sure if you are near me in Central NJ but i go to Amwell Bird Hospital (Hillsborough/Somerset County) and he is always really reasonable for things like that. I forget what i paid when i got Gilbert's nails done (i almost typed 'hands'...omg, i really DO think he is human...) but it was minimal. Gil's nails are great.