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Having your bird's nails and wings clipped several times a year at the vet’s office is traumatizing to the birds and is a big hassle for you. Make this task easier, learn how to clip them at home instead!
Your vet can show you some guidelines for cutting both wings and nails. Birds are small animals and can bleed out very quickly if you clip a nail too short or hit a blood feather. The first few times you perform the task, ask your vet to supervise. When you feel comfortable enough to clip at home, always keep your vet's number handy, in case of an emergency.
Before clipping your bird's wings, you want to get him comfortable with a towel. Use a hand towel and spend a little time each day playing with your bird and the towel. Making a game out of the experience allows your bird to have fun and look forward to playing with a towel. Gain your bird’s trust by wrapping the towel around him and picking him up. It may take some time, but it is well worth the effort. Eventually you will be able to pick your bird up in the towel and stretch out one side of his wings. you can then trim his feathers.
Trimming your bird's nails can be a bit trickier. If you clip a nail too short it causes a great deal of pain and a bird can bleed to death very easily. Have corn starch or flower on hand in case you nick a vein. These ingredients help to stop the bleeding quicker. It is important to be very calm during the clipping. Talk to your bird and tell him that he is doing fine, this helps to keep him calm as well. Turn him on his back while wrapped in a towel so you can easily cut his nails. Use sharp scissors or clippers to take just the sharpest tip off of the nail.
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