How to Cut a Bird's Toenails
Wild birds keep their toenails trimmed by rubbing them against rough bark and tree limbs; domestic birds don't have this advantage. Overgrown nails on a domestic bird can cause walking problems and affect the bird's ability to grasp foo. Toenails also may cause damage to the delicate bottoms of the bird's feet if left too long. Learning how to cut your bird's nails at home saves you money on vet bills and keeps your bird healthy and well-groomed.
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Things You'll Need
- Bird, human or small dog nail clippers
- Coagulating agent, such as styptic powder
- Wet cotton swab
Instructions
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Restrain your small bird by firmly but gently grasping the bird with its back and closed wings against the palm of your non-dominant hand. Hold the head between your index and middle finger while your ring and little finger softly close around the bird's body. Larger birds may require a second handler to gently hold the bird's head and legs while you trim the nails.
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Grasp one of the bird's legs between your thumb and either your middle or ring finger, depending on which is more comfortable for you and your bird.
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Extend one toe and trim off the sharp edge to just below where the "quick" -- the blood vein -- begins with your clippers. You will be able to see the vein clearly in white nails; in dark nails, trim just enough off the tip to dull the edge without nicking the bird.
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Continue cutting the rest of the nails and release your bird back into its cage to rest and de-stress.
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Tips & Warnings
Use a wet cotton swab dipped in a coagulating powder applied to the nail if you accidentally clip the bird's quick. Styptic powder or a flour/cornstarch mixture will stop the bleeding without causing any pain to the bird, according to Becky Sumber of The True Parrot website and the Avian Welfare Coalition.
To reduce stress on the bird, wrap a larger bird in a towel so that its wings are against its body and its head and legs are exposed. The ends of the towel should meet around the breast of the bird. You will need a handler to restrain the head and position each leg for you to clip the toenails.
Ask your veterinarian to show you the proper way to restrain your bird. Placing too much pressure on the bird's breast can cause it to suffocate. Holding a leg, foot or toe too rigidly can break delicate bones.
To reduce your bird's stress levels during capture, dim the lights in the room and use a towel to cover the bird's head and body, according to doctors Thomas Tully and Mark Mitchell in "A Technician's Guide to Exotic Animal Care." Once the bird is safely wrapped in the towel, you can turn up the lights and proceed to clip the nails.
References
Resources
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