What is the best way..
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I clip my own birds nails, and it's infinitely easier if you can find a second pair of hands to help. 
Get them to hold the bird in a towel (or in their hands if the bird isn't bitey) and you can hold the toes as you clip the nails. I find using a mini pair of human nail clippers to be easiest. If your birds are nice they'll have lovely pink toenails and you'll be able to see the quick to avoid it (the vein in their nail):
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If your bird is a butthead then it'll have black nails:
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In which case you would just trim the very tip.
Have some flour ready and a towel/tissue to apply pressure if you cut a little too far. I've never had a toenail gush blood, so you would have to do a bit of a hack job to cause any real harm.
Get them to hold the bird in a towel (or in their hands if the bird isn't bitey) and you can hold the toes as you clip the nails. I find using a mini pair of human nail clippers to be easiest. If your birds are nice they'll have lovely pink toenails and you'll be able to see the quick to avoid it (the vein in their nail):
If your bird is a butthead then it'll have black nails:
In which case you would just trim the very tip.
Have some flour ready and a towel/tissue to apply pressure if you cut a little too far. I've never had a toenail gush blood, so you would have to do a bit of a hack job to cause any real harm.
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Well Earl is a butthead, Earl's aren't really that long and they don't dig in! Do your tiels nails need cutting only when they are to long, or can they be worn down by perches etc. Because I am thinking that Earl's will never have to be cut, they don't seem to be growing much! But do you think they at least once a year need to be cut ?? :wacko:
Do your tiels nails need cutting only when they are to long, or can they be worn down by perches etc. Because I am thinking that Earl's will never have to be cut, they don't seem to be growing much! But do you think they at least once a year need to be cut ?? :wacko:
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Spike is only 1% butt head He only has one black nail. Spikes nails are starting to scratch my hands so Iam going to try and file his nails down. He has some very long veins in his nails. When I took him to get his wings clipped his nails were very sharp so they dremeld them down and he bled each nail
He only has one black nail. Spikes nails are starting to scratch my hands so Iam going to try and file his nails down. He has some very long veins in his nails. When I took him to get his wings clipped his nails were very sharp so they dremeld them down and he bled each nail
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Some birds nails grow more than others, i have to clip some of mine but others i don't need to worry about. If they have perches and surfaces that they walk on where their feet don't wrap right around and their nails hit the perch then they should stay worn down.
I would find it difficult to file a squirmy birds nails, it's much faster and less stressful to just clip the tip. It shouldn't bleed, especially if you can see the quick so you can make a point of avoiding it.
Jaime - Spike and Snickers similarities grow! Snickers only has one black nail too.
I would find it difficult to file a squirmy birds nails, it's much faster and less stressful to just clip the tip. It shouldn't bleed, especially if you can see the quick so you can make a point of avoiding it.
Jaime - Spike and Snickers similarities grow! Snickers only has one black nail too.
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Awww they are almost like twins Spike has a sandy perch and a larger wooden perch but his nails are really sharp again. It is strange how they go more sharp then get too long. I think this Sunday Iam going to do them. He is not going to be a happy bird
Spike has a sandy perch and a larger wooden perch but his nails are really sharp again. It is strange how they go more sharp then get too long. I think this Sunday Iam going to do them. He is not going to be a happy bird 
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11,168 Posts
Okay thanks for that Bea! I'm gonna get my step dad to help me this afternoon.
Tilly needs hers done as well as Mali, so they're both not gonna like me.
Sophia: I think it'll only be a once a year thing since they don't grow quick.
I'm going to be getting a perch from a pet barn local, which is one that's used to keep their nails trimmed.
So maybe it'll only be this once that I'll need to do it.
From what I can see, Dipsy, Squeak, and Jasper all have good sized nails that don't need to be touched.
(well for now)
Oh and I had a look at their nails, and we have assorted ones. Haha.
Mali: All pink nails
Tilly: Black nails
Dipsy: Black nails
Jasper: 4 Black nails & 2 Pink nails
Squeak: 4 Black nails & 2 Pink nails
Thanks again everyone.
I'm gonna get my step dad to help me this afternoon. Tilly needs hers done as well as Mali, so they're both not gonna like me.
Sophia: I think it'll only be a once a year thing since they don't grow quick.
I'm going to be getting a perch from a pet barn local, which is one that's used to keep their nails trimmed.
So maybe it'll only be this once that I'll need to do it.
From what I can see, Dipsy, Squeak, and Jasper all have good sized nails that don't need to be touched.
(well for now)
Oh and I had a look at their nails, and we have assorted ones. Haha.
Mali: All pink nails
Tilly: Black nails
Dipsy: Black nails
Jasper: 4 Black nails & 2 Pink nails
Squeak: 4 Black nails & 2 Pink nails
Thanks again everyone.
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