Beaks and toes.

Anyone ever use a dremel for beaks and toes? I've used a dremel on nails (my own, or a clients) in the past and really liked it more than regular clippers and a file. Tiki doesn't appreciate pedicures like most of us. On a very slow mode, i wonder if this is safe to use for her toes and occasionally her beak? (We're still trying to figure out how to use the concrete and sand perches - they're new and scary).

The first few years I used a Dremel-like thing on his nails. I personally wouldn't trim a beak... it's so tricky: I'd want my avian vet to do that. As to perches...

I really recommend them... 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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for the advice! She's just about to be a year old (5 days!) and those are the only things she really isn't a fan of. Its so amusing what annoys them sometimes. I put up a 7 foot glittery shiny lighted Christmas tree four feet from her cage and she doesn't bat an eye, but i get a new perch and its absolute chaos! I'm comfortable trimming her wings so far and she'll (with great hesitation and protesting on her part) allow my to gently file the tip of her beak occasionally if its too sharp. And the toes. The dirty looks i get from trimming her toes, my gosh. She loves the sound my sonic tooth brush makes so i thought maybe since its similar sounding it wont be as traumatic.

saracuse said:

Thank you for the advice! She's just about to be a year old (5 days!) and those are the only things she really isn't a fan of. Its so amusing what annoys them sometimes. I put up a 7 foot glittery shiny lighted Christmas tree four feet from her cage and she doesn't bat an eye, but i get a new perch and its absolute chaos! I'm comfortable trimming her wings so far and she'll (with great hesitation and protesting on her part) allow my to gently file the tip of her beak occasionally if its too sharp. And the toes. The dirty looks i get from trimming her toes, my gosh. She loves the sound my sonic tooth brush makes so i thought maybe since its similar sounding it wont be as traumatic.

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Dremels have become standard fair at Avian Vets Clinics.

Since you have used them, you know that they are directional and it is very important to assure that when you are working on toes, that the turning would pull the tool away from the toe. It is always better to use a fine grain head for both the reduced vibration and to limit the amount of material you are removing!

Beaks, The beak is very sensitive, with direct connections from its base to sensory receptors. Beak trimming should only be done by a Avian Trained Specialist, i.e. an Avian Vet! Serious errors could be made that would require you to be rushing to your AV Clinic! At the current age of your Parrot, there should be no reason for a beak trim. If needed, there would likely be underlying issues that you AV would need to address.

Do you have a Bird Emergency (Medical) Kit in your home?

I've only really attempted her beak once.(One other time was just testing the waters with a file, she kinda just bit onto it and played with it). Our breeder allowed me to visit and watch with a few older birds. Her beak has been really really sharp lately. She's in the middle of a molt at the moment and avoiding her veggies at all costs. I doubt that has anything to do with it, but its the only real thing that's different in the past month.

Yes to the Bird Emergency Kit. I brought one home before she even came home!

saracuse said:

I've only really attempted her beak once.(One other time was just testing the waters with a file, she kinda just bit onto it and played with it). Our breeder allowed me to visit and watch with a few older birds. Her beak has been really really sharp lately. She's in the middle of a molt at the moment and avoiding her veggies at all costs. I doubt that has anything to do with it, but its the only real thing that's different in the past month.

Yes to the Bird Emergency Kit. I brought one home before she even came home!

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Take a look and see if you have Clotisol in your kit. Will likely have to get it from your AV. Clotisol is a must have prior to working on Nails. Replace yearly with new! Its use is to stop bleeding, and young parrots crash around enough that you will likely need it during the next couple of years.

Shape beak is common during the first few years. I strongly recommend that you do not trim the beak. During your next AV visit talk about the subject with your AV. Been around Amazons for far to many years and know better than to take on beak trimming, just to many things that can go seriously wrong!

The kit has a small bottle of styptic powder in it. I have a larger bottle of Kwik Stop that I always bring with me whenever we go anywhere with Tiki. In your experience, have you found the gel works better/faster/easier to use than the powder? Or is it in personal preference?

Really, truly, honestly, thank you for the advice. I appreciate it. Sometimes I think I've got the parrot mom thing down, turns out i haven't scratched the surface yet!

saracuse said:

The kit has a small bottle of styptic powder in it. I have a larger bottle of Kwik Stop that I always bring with me whenever we go anywhere with Tiki. In your experience, have you found the gel works better/faster/easier to use than the powder? Or is it in personal preference?

Really, truly, honestly, thank you for the advice. I appreciate it. Sometimes I think I've got the parrot mom thing down, turns out i haven't scratched the surface yet!

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Hey, it will only get worst! Being a Parrot Grandfather, I continue to be haunted by the reality that as you so very well stated: I haven't scraped the surface yet!

For travel, powder is a better choice, if you are not bring the Kit with you! The gel /creams are (IMHO) quicker, therefore better. I use the long stem 'Q Tips' to apply either. In either case, there are all messy! So, remember to include an end roll of paper toweling in your kit! Oh, you will likely increase the size of your container with time, added equipment and knowledge.

Thank you, saracuse and Sailboat. I have some styptic powder and it's probably ten years old... I didn't know it should be replaced yearly!!!!!

GaleriaGila said:

Thank you, saracuse and Sailboat. I have some styptic powder and it's probably ten years old... I didn't know it should be replaced yearly!!!!!

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Ten years is a bit old. Powder last up to five to six years, if sealed. Some say longer, but as it ages it become a solid and become useless. Also, the active chemicals breakdown and at some point it becomes as effect as flour. Flour works and because it is commonly available in most homes is a solid back-up.

The gel and creams tend to also harden. Because, (sadly) us Humans always want to open the container to 'look' at the stuff, well there goes the seal! The one year point takes that reality in to place, hence replace after one year. If never opened maybe a couple, three years.

Please remember to review the condition of everything in your Kit and add to it as you knowledge increases regarding first response care!

Most basic Kits do not have Vet Rap, but it should be a part of any Kit! We keep three rolls each a different color, cause we never know what color our Amazon is in to that week. Light colors are better than bold colors with white /cream as the all around back-up.

I bought a pair of cat/kitten nail clippers, and I use it to clip both Willow's nails and beak. She tends to grind down the middle of her lower beak on her own leaving 2 "teeth" like points on the sides, so I I clip those level every other nail trim as well as the tip of the upper beak the soon as it starts getting transparent or uneven. She didn't much care for it at first, but through training and bite pressure training, I now allow her to "bite" my finger while I move her tongue out of the way to clip the points of the beak.

ToMang07 said:

I bought a pair of cat/kitten nail clippers, and I use it to clip both Willow's nails and beak. She tends to grind down the middle of her lower beak on her own leaving 2 "teeth" like points on the sides, so I I clip those level every other nail trim as well as the tip of the upper beak the soon as it starts getting transparent or uneven. She didn't much care for it at first, but through training and bite pressure training, I now allow her to "bite" my finger while I move her tongue out of the way to clip the points of the beak.

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Who underwent the training you or Willow? She is such a good girl.

New toys/perches are usually accepted easier if left out in plain sight for a few days.

* A cold compress was advised by my AV and not flour.

@ Saracuse : Concerned re such a young bird needing to have this done already, may be worthwhile letting your AV have a look?

plumsmum2005 said:

ToMang07 said:

I bought a pair of cat/kitten nail clippers, and I use it to clip both Willow's nails and beak. She tends to grind down the middle of her lower beak on her own leaving 2 "teeth" like points on the sides, so I I clip those level every other nail trim as well as the tip of the upper beak the soon as it starts getting transparent or uneven. She didn't much care for it at first, but through training and bite pressure training, I now allow her to "bite" my finger while I move her tongue out of the way to clip the points of the beak.

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Who underwent the training you or Willow? She is such a good girl.

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True enough, lol

And if I nick a quick, I use corn starch. I dip the bleeding nail into it, (I keep an old medicine bottle with just enough to fill the cap with some in it with the clippers) and I will hold pressure to it for a minute or 2.