A bird’s claws wear off on the porch, or on the bottom of a cage. If the nails do not wear or wear poorly, they must be clipped. A bird with nails that are too long can injure itself and the nails can easily catch on to something. Cutting the nails is a precise job because the upper part of the nail contains life. If you clip it into life, the nail will bleed and the bird will be in pain. So for cutting you use special nail scissors, with which you cut off the bottom, dead part of the nail.
Why Are Perches Important To A Bird’S Legs?
Birds strengthen the muscles in their legs through the movements they make on a perch. This also ensures that the legs do not become stiff. In addition, the nails wear out in a natural way, so cutting is usually not necessary. For this, you need perches that are different in shape and thickness. This way the nails wear well and the muscles remain strong.
A bird with nails that are too long can:
- Injure oneself.
- Damage the eggs.
- Not good at climbing in the cage anymore.
- Get caught up in something.
The Design Of A Cage Or Aviary
If a bird’s nails do not wear out or wear out badly, this can be caused by the (plastic) perches that you can buy in the store. They are often too thin and too straight. With these round perches, the bird always bends its legs in the same position.
Therefore, it is better to get sticks from nature. You can also buy from a pet store. If you look for suitable sticks yourself, you have to make sure that they are not poisonous. Branches of the oak are poisonous, for example, branches of pollard willow and fruit trees are suitable. Also, make sure that the bird cannot injure itself on the perch. If you are attaching several perches, do not place them all horizontally, but also hang a few at an angle.
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Perches made of different materials
There are perches made of wood, rope, plastic, minerals, and cement. Parrots love rope. Rope offers the birds climbing and playing opportunities. Mineral perches are made with sea shells. They contain a lot of calcium and the birds can bite out pieces here. The rough material is good for the paws and nails.
Cement perches are available in different thicknesses. The sticks are wavy in shape. The cement ensures clean, stubby nails. It also cleans the beak. The perches prevent arthritis and atrophy (curvature) of the legs. Cement perches are available in a variety of colors.
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Perches In The Aviary
When buying perches, you pay attention to the thickness of the sticks. The bird’s toes should encompass three-quarters of the perch, but it is good to buy perches of different thicknesses. Fasten them securely to the cage. Birds like a high seat.
Therefore place the sticks at the top of the aviary, at the greatest possible distance from each other. The birds will have to fly like this to get to another perch. This mimics natural behavior. Do not place perches exactly one above the other because birds at the top of the aviary will soil the birds below with their droppings.
Cut With A Special Nail Scissors
To trim the nails, use special nail scissors, available from the vet or pet store. If the nails are not that long, you can trim them with a file. To trim the nails of a canary or parakeet, use nail clippers or nail scissors. For a parrot, you need stronger tools.
When Are The Nails Too Long?
Place the bird on a flat surface. The nail is the correct length when the toe is flat on the surface and the nail tip rests on the ground. If the nail is too long, it will push the toe up.
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Clipping The Nails
A bird’s nails consist of a living and a dead part. The living part is pink in color, and there is a vein running through it. The lower part is dead and may be clipped. With horn-colored nails, you can see the vein, with dark-colored nails you can’t. Then only cut off the piece that pushes the toe up.
Hold the leg between your thumb and forefinger. On the other hand, clip the nails. Provide sufficient daylight, or cut in the light of a bright lamp. You can then see the blood vessel through the nail. Do not cut the nails too short, but leave a few millimeters below the live part. After clipping the nails, sand them down with a nail file. Also, check the beak.
The top and bottom should be the same length. If the upper beak is too long, carefully trim it. Then file the beak into the correct shape with the nail file. If the beak becomes too long, the bird can no longer absorb food. He can no longer feed the boy. Ask an expert for help if you don’t dare or can’t do it yourself.
Bleed
Are you accidentally cutting life? Then the nail will bleed and the bird will be in pain. Sometimes, if the nails are very long, the vein in the nail has grown along with it. To get the nail back to the right length, cutting the vein is almost unavoidable. It is better to cut the nail than two or three times. The vein retracts again, allowing you to cut a little further next time.
If the nail bleeds, it is important to stop the bleeding as soon as possible. Prepare a bowl with flour or cornflour for cutting. Press the bleeding nail in. The blood thickens and clots faster. If you’d rather not trim the nails yourself, ask your vet to do it. You can also go here for tips and advice so that you know what to look out for when you get started.
