PrincessMommy Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 I have a 3yr old budgie and her toe nails are very long. We have a cuttle bone (???) which she uses for her beak, but not really for her toes. We also have a pumice perch. Is there anything else I should have/be doing to help her. I don't want to take her in to the vets. I've read several stories of people whose budgie died from stress of getting their nails/beak clipped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Can you pick her up? If she's used to being handled, trimming her nails wouldn't be a big thing. Personally, I wouldn't try trimming a beak. o_0 She has other perches which are not pumice, yes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted March 18, 2013 Author Share Posted March 18, 2013 Yes, we hold her a lot. We trim her wings when they get too long and she's flying around too much, but she isn't happy about it and it stresses her out. But, it's us and not a stranger. She has a wooden perch and the plastic one that came with the cage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 I know you didn't ask this but I can't help myself. :D It helps budgies to have a variety of perches--different sizes/thicknesses, different shapes, things that would more closely emulate the tree limbs and branches and whatnot that would be in her native habitat, KWIM? You might check out the perches at your local pet store for manzanita branches and rope perches like these. I'm no specialist, but it seems to me that if you can trim her wings, you can trim her nails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 trimming the nails is pretty easy, wrap it in a hand towel/ dish towel and hold out a foot. Just like with dogs, don't go too far down where the "quick" is. I used to trim all the time when I was a kid, not hard at all. Beaks- I wouldn't do that. It just takes a moment, the bird will get over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted March 18, 2013 Author Share Posted March 18, 2013 trimming the nails is pretty easy, wrap it in a hand towel/ dish towel and hold out a foot. Just like with dogs, don't go too far down where the "quick" is. I used to trim all the time when I was a kid, not hard at all. Beaks- I wouldn't do that. It just takes a moment, the bird will get over it. Is there a special nail trimming thing I should get or are regular scissors okay? Ellie Her 3 perches are all different sizes. But, she spends a lot of time sitting on the outside of her cage. I don't think her cage could hold anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Is there a special nail trimming thing I should get or are regular scissors okay? Ellie Her 3 perches are all different sizes. But, she spends a lot of time sitting on the outside of her cage. I don't think her cage could hold anymore. They're different sizes, but are they different shapes? all round and straight? If so, I'd take out two of them and replace them with something else, like a manzanita branch or a curvy comfy perch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 I always just used regular people nail clippers, small ones. regular scissors would work fine, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted March 19, 2013 Author Share Posted March 19, 2013 well the deed is done. She was stressed out but not more than when I clipper her wings. She's sitting on my shoulder as I type, so I guess she doesn't hate me too much. :p Thanks for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 well the deed is done. She was stressed out but not more than when I clipper her wings. She's sitting on my shoulder as I type, so I guess she doesn't hate me too much. :p Thanks for the help. :hurray: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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