How to Trim Parrot Claws

Parrots, as wonderful pets as they may be, can harbor some nasty claws, so trimming your pet's talons should be a regular part of your caretaking. But trimming these claws is no easy task. In fact, you should only undertake the challenge if you know exactly what you're doing.

Things You'll Need

• Towel
• Dremel, bird nail clippers, or emery board
• Styptic power or gel

Instructions

1. Wrap the parrot in a thick, wet towel. The water helps prevent the parrot from overheating. Swaddle your parrot gently, making sure to cradle its head and give it room to breath. Remember, parrots breath by moving their breast bone like a bellows, so don't restrict its movement. Also, don't hold so hard that you might break its neck or make it panic any more than necessary.

2. Slowly reach in, and take hold of the arch of the bird's foot. Gently grip one toe between your index and middle finger. Keep your bird as calm as possible.

3. Carefully scrutinize the nail beforehand to locate the quick (the part of the nail that contains blood vessels). If you trim too far, the nails may become too short to grip and climb and you may damage the nail bed for future growth. You bird will also bleed from its nails.

4. With an emery board, file the claw down just enough to round the tip of the talon. If you use clippers, be certain that you're not cutting into the quick. You may also use a dremel grinding tool, but the high heat may cause damage if used incorrectly and the noise may scare the bird.

5. Repeat for all talons that need trimming. If your bird begins to bleed at any point, apply the styptic (clotting) powder for 2 to 3 minutes and apply gently pressure. If your bird continues to bleed, take your pet to the vet immediately.

Tips & Warnings

• If at any point your parrot begins to overheat or panic, take a break and try again later.

• Consider a therapeutic perch, which trims your parrot's nails naturally and painlessly.

• Do not use nail clippers designed for humans. The angle is different than for an animal's nails.

• If you are not confident in your ability to trim your parrots claws, or may harm the bird in doing so, by all means take it to have its claws trimmed at a professional pet store or vet.