Tips for wing/toe nail clipping

Akraya · May 11, 2012

Hi again guys,
So yesterday my brothers cockatiel escaped with clipped wings but luckily we caught him within an hour. This event has shaken me up a bit and I've noticed my conures are 'gliding' further and further so it's time again to attempt wi g clipping.
So now to the question, my conures are super wriggly and don't exactly love having their wings touched for too long, can anyone suggest tips to make this wing clipping business easier or are there people put there who've had trouble but have found a way around the wiggling and squirming and biting?
Any kind of help would be much appreciated =)

Oh and same goes for toes, cement perches seem to do nothing!

MollyGreenCheeks · May 11, 2012

Do you have a reputable bird shop in the area that will do it? Better to pay a few dollars (My local shop does it for free) and get it done correctly.

You can find youtube videos that will show you how but it can still be quite "fun"! You wrap a dish towel around them like a cape and hold it snuggly at the neck as not to choke them but to prevent any excess movement. Then you can pull out one wing at a time and clip away. Make sure you know what your doing or you can cause them to bleed.

https://www.windycityparrot.com/Bird-Cage-Cleaning-Parrot-Grooming-Health-First-Aid.html

I recommend you begin to play with you birds wings by gently flexing them to flight position, one at a time, on a daily basis. This will make it easier to clip them in the future. I consider this daily maintenance with my two GCC's.

Akraya · May 11, 2012

Yeah, might just pay again and start playing with their wings more for next time. I got a vet to do it last time and she had no idea =/ was a little unnerving to say the least!

MollyGreenCheeks · May 11, 2012

Akraya said:
Yeah, might just pay again and start playing with their wings more for next time. I got a vet to do it last time and she had no idea =/ was a little unnerving to say the least!

It may cost more but you should really be taking your bird to a Licensed Avian Vet.

Akraya · May 11, 2012

I do for check ups and what not, just on the other side of the city and silly me thought a normal vet could handle clipping

lene1949 · May 12, 2012

My local bird shop says: 'only clip ONE wing.. If you clip TWO the bird can still fly... With One it'll fly in a circle'...

I have tried to educate them on this subject, but they won't listen...

If you bought your bird from the breeder, go to them to get them clipped... or to a vet, who knows birds...

Another way is to keep your house bird proof...

Featheredsamurai · May 12, 2012

It helps if you can have someone else hold him for you, with two fingers on either side of his cheeks to help keep him still(without squeezing the body though, because that could smother your bird).

If you can bring your bird to someone who is very goo at clipping and watch how they do it first, seeing it done correctly helps a lot. Also remember to always check for blood feathers.

Tips for wing/toe nail clipping

Akraya

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MollyGreenCheeks

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Akraya

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MollyGreenCheeks

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Akraya

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lene1949

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Featheredsamurai

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