welshy
Baby Bird
Joined: August 2005
Posts: 18
|
Post by welshy on Sept 1, 2005 11:52:19 GMT -7
can anyone tell me a way of getting my greys nails clipped or clipping them myself?
|
|
|
Post by Jane on Sept 1, 2005 12:02:58 GMT -7
|
|
welshy
Baby Bird
Joined: August 2005
Posts: 18
|
Post by welshy on Sept 1, 2005 12:14:42 GMT -7
thanx jane i think i might ring my vets see if they can do it unless some one knows of some really good nail clippers i good nuy and do it myself save scaring him her in the vets as she doesnt like woman lol
|
|
|
Post by Jane on Sept 1, 2005 12:22:06 GMT -7
The nail clippers you can buy in the pet shops are okay, they are a bit like scissors but have a shaped bit in each blade.
Jane
|
|
ivy
Baby Bird
IVY
Joined: September 2005
Posts: 24
|
Post by ivy on Sept 4, 2005 11:20:28 GMT -7
My vet uses a dremel, less chance of cutting the quick and it leaves a nice smooth tip. I also have one at home for my dogs that I use but all my birds go to the vet for nail and wing trims. If you decide to do it yourself keep some quick stop on hand.
|
|
|
Post by lidiam on Sept 5, 2005 2:14:02 GMT -7
Welshy, If you're nervous of using the clippers, you could do as I have done for the past ten or so years, that is, file your AG's nails. Joshua is so used to it now, that he holds a foot out behind him when I ask him to (and I have the emery board in my hand). He doesn't particularly enjoy the process, but he allows me to do it and I can usually get both feet done in one go. In general, I have to do it about once a month, which doesn't compare too badly to when I used to bring him to the vet to have it done there, and I had to do that every six weeks or so. It's certainly less bothersome all round to file them, and there's no danger whatsoever of drawing blood by chopping the nail too short. Lidia
|
|
|
Post by Adele on Sept 6, 2005 8:22:00 GMT -7
How short do you file them? I filed my birds nails but they still scratch me a lot when I am holding him.
|
|
|
Post by lidiam on Sept 6, 2005 8:27:16 GMT -7
I try to get a blunt edge to the nail, so that he can stand with his feet flat on a flat surface, so that the nail is like a broad upside-down U and so that I don't get scratched or punctured.
Basically, I file the pointy bit off, and that's about it. That tends to be all that needs to be done. They don't seem to grow in any crazy-fast way.
Lidia
|
|
|
Post by Debbie120 on Sept 7, 2005 5:31:44 GMT -7
Hi Guys,
I have always taken Charlie to the vet to to have his nail clipped, but the trip always seems to leave him very distressed.
Also, everytime I have take him the vat has cut to deep and ended up cutting the quick and this causes some bleeding, does this hurt the bird or is it painless?
Debbie
|
|
|
Post by Jane on Sept 7, 2005 5:53:58 GMT -7
Visits to the vet usually are rather traumatic for them anyway but a vet should know not to cut them so short that they bleed. As a slight consolation, if a bird is going to be DNA sexed using blood, the blood is collected by cutting a nail too short.
Jane
|
|
|
Post by lidiam on Sept 7, 2005 6:26:46 GMT -7
Debbie, If the trip to the vet is proving too traumatic on too regular a basis for Charlie, you might consider some other means of clipping his nails: doing it yourself, or even filing the nails (as (I do). You could also get one of those concrete perches that naturally abrade the nails so that they never grow points. I would not even consider going to a vet who makes the same mistake each time. Lidia
|
|
|
Post by Greypi on Sept 7, 2005 13:30:11 GMT -7
Hi Debbie, I have used a concrete perch for three years since we had our grey, I use a rope perch directly opposite the concrete one in his cage so he has a choice of perches, so his feet don't become sore or anything, and his nails have never needed clipping. Saves all the stress of a vets visit! He also has two wood perches in his cage.
|
|
debs12o
Weaned Todd
Joined: June 2005
Posts: 36
|
Post by debs12o on Sept 28, 2005 5:16:29 GMT -7
Hi guys,
Thanks for the advice. Charlie has a conrete perch in his cage, he goes on it a lot, but it doesn't seem to make any difference to his nails (he has 4 other perches too, 2 wooden, 1 java branch and a calcium perch.)
Also, I tried to file them but he thinks its just one big game - which makes me laugh!
I'll just have to keep trying with him, because I hate to see him stressed or scared!
Thanks Again Debs :-)
|
|
|
Post by Jane on Sept 28, 2005 5:25:16 GMT -7
It is important that the nail triming perches are the right size so that the nails come into the correct amount of contact with it. If it is too small it won't work.
Jane
|
|
|
Post by lidiam on Sept 28, 2005 6:53:32 GMT -7
Jane, What size/diameter do the abrading perches need to be? I got one the other day to go in Joshua's new cage, and the fella in the petshop sold me one that seems large enough for a big macaw! Joshua's wood perches are broom-handle width, which works well. Lidia
|
|