Nail clipping

Alehner529

Member
Dec 6, 2018
111
15
Northern Wisconsin
Parrots
Sun Conure
Okay, so its finally time. I need to clip mango's nails. They are catching on shirts and other things, and its only a matter of time before something even more dangerous happens. So for those of you that clip nails yourselves, how do you do it? I used to do this all the time on captive Raptors, but I'm not sure how similar the process should be. We would catch them and wrap them in a towel to immobilize them before clipping. This ensures they dont jerk away when we clip. Is this the right tactic, to hold her physically while clipping and beg for forgiveness afterwards? I worry that she would try to fly away right in the middle of clipping and cause a injury to herself. Picture included just because.
2d878d5343803acb17d986c48e4edb00.jpg


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clark_conure

Well-known member
Jul 14, 2017
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Minnesota
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A crossover Quaker Scuti (F), A Sun conure named AC, A Cinnamon Green Cheek conure Kent, and 6 budgies, Scuti Jr. (f), yellow (m), clark Jr. (m), Dot (f), Zebra(f), Machine (m).
I use electrical snips for mine...and I just nip the tip..... But after a while I can't keep up with the curve So i schedule an Avn appointment and have them do it.

It's worth the 60 bucks or so for two birds....
 

GaleriaGila

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Parrot of the Month 🏆
May 14, 2016
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Cleveland area
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The Rickeybird, 38-year-old Patagonian Conure
A lonnnnnng term solution, maybe.

My usual narrative...
I really recommend getting those nail-trimming perches... they can eliminate nail-trimming, which was always so stressful for me and the Rb. It took a few years, but I eventually established a pattern/rotation that keeps him trimmed. I haven't had to do his nails in 20-plus years. I keep a dowel as the main "highway" down the middle of the cage, but the special cement/trimmer/textured perches are all over.
A few brands... but there are many: Polly's Sand Walk... Pumice Perch... Trimmer Perch...
Be sure to introduce them gradually: they're abrasive to their tender feet at first. I LOVE them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These are smooth on top and abrasive underneath. Very easy to install/clean, oo.
Sweet Feet and Beaks Pedicure Perch xsmall for parrots, Feather Fantasy
May take a while to get the right combinations/locations, but was worth it for me and the Rb.

If ever there were an issue, I'd just take the Rb to our vet, yeah...
 
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Alehner529

Alehner529

Member
Dec 6, 2018
111
15
Northern Wisconsin
Parrots
Sun Conure
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I do have some of those perches. I just upgraded her to a bigger cage recently, and need to find the right spots for her sandy perches.

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Alehner529

Alehner529

Member
Dec 6, 2018
111
15
Northern Wisconsin
Parrots
Sun Conure
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  • #6
For anyone interested, I did end up clipping her nails. I used a technique that I use for banding American kestrels. When we band them, we put them head first into a pringles can. It is the perfect diameter for a kestrel (or a sun conure) and it is nice and dark and calms them down instantly. So I put her in a pringles can, and pulled her tail and legs gently out of the opening. It worked perfectly. She was calm and quiet and still the whole time, and she is currently snuggling on my shoulder, so clearly I am forgiven.

I did look into taking her to a vet, but the only local exotics vet said she needed to come in for an all around checkup first, which she didn't need.


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Inger

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Parrot of the Month 🏆
Mar 20, 2017
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Everett, WA
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Bumble - Pacific (or Celestial) Parrotlet hatched 02/19/17
Ok this is brilliant but also the visual is hysterical. Glad it worked so well!


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RemiBird

New member
Feb 26, 2019
271
3
Lol, glad you found a way to do it.
I usually just put on gardening gloves and Remi, although not thrilled, lets me do the nails without much drama.
 

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