Grooming
1. CLIP YOUR BIRD'S WINGS!!! Arizona Exotic Bird Rescue recommends a bilateral (two-sided) trim of the first 6 to 8 flight feathers. This trim is the safest clip. There are many websites that offer instructions. However we recommend you see your avian veterinarian. If your bird is well trimmed, he is far less likely to escape. Remember to check on the status of trimmed wings on a regular basis. They can grow back quickly, leaving your bird fully-flighted again. If you take your bird in for grooming is sure he is in a cage or use an avian harness. Many birds have been lost because they traveled unrestrained on the way to a wing trim!
2. Use Technology: Be sure to have your bird microchipped.
These tiny rice-sized chips can be easily inserted into your bird's breast-muscle. Once there, they stay for life. These chips can be "scanned" to reveal a permanent ID number that will reveal the name and contact information of a pet's owner. This way if your bird escapes or is stolen you have firm proof that this is your bird. Many vets and humane organizations routinely scan any pets that are brought to them.
3. Beaks: Don’t even consider filing or trimming your birds’ beak yourself!!!! This requires skill, knowledge and the proper tools. Our veterinarian, Dr. Kevin Wright, DVM and his outstanding staff are the only ones we trust to properly address this task. Avoid taking your bird to individuals offering grooming that use emery boards, K-9 toenail clippers, cuticle clippers and excessive restraint. Many birds have lost their life or been seriously injured at the hands of such people. I personally own a parrot damaged by an ‘expert groomer.’
4. Toe Nails:
1. Locate the toenail's blood source, if you can. Like humans, the bird's toenail has a blood source (the quick) that will bleed if cut. If you're trimming at home, you'll need to take care to avoid cutting into the quick. In pink nails (such as on the Lutino Cockatiel) you can clearly see the quick (it's dark pink or red), but it's difficult or impossible to see on dark nails.
2. Use scissors made for dogs and cats (or birds if you can find them). These clippers will be rounded so that you can just put the tip of the nail through the hole and clip. Just be sure that if you have nail trimmers for your dog or cat that you get a separate trimmer for your bird. Don't use the same nail trimmer for all your pets.
3. Obtain a good clotting powder, like Styptic Powder, or flour/cornstarch. You can use this to stop any bleeding. Do not use Styptic Powder on skin, as it will burn. Only use it on toenails.
4. Get a towel large enough to wrap around your bird's body. Don't let it be so long that it gets in the way.
5. One person should towel the bird. [SEE BELOW] Take the towel and wrap it around so that each end meets near the bird's belly. Your index finger and thumb finger of one hand should be around the bird's neck, just under her beak. This will stop her from biting you. Do not compress the bird's belly! Birds do not have a diaphragm like humans, and if they cannot expand and contract their bodies to breathe, they can suffocate. Your other hand should be loosely around the bird's body just above her legs.
6. The second person should gently extend one toe at a time for clipping. Do not pull too hard on the toes or foot; these limbs are so delicate and tiny that too much pressure can break them. Be very gentle. The bird will struggle. A gentle but firm grip can get the job done.
7. Using the nail clippers, take off a very small amount of nail on each foot to avoid cutting into the blood supply. Taking off the sharp edge will help to dull the nail.
8. If you do cut into the quick and the nail bleeds, wet the tip of your finger and dip it into the Styptic Powder, or the flour or cornstarch. Then dot the powder onto the nail, packing it in lightly. The bleeding should stop. If the blood flow is heavy and it doesn't stop after packing it with powder, call your vet. Birds can die quickly from blood loss.
9. After each nail has been clipped, gently release the bird. She will probably be disoriented and stressed out. Keep her calm, return her to her cage and give her a treat. Make sure she's warm and comfortable. If you stopped any bleeding before, check on her periodically to make sure she hasn't started bleeding again.
Tips:
1. Use nail clippers designed specifically for birds. You can also use nail clippers for cats (the rounded kind), just make sure you buy a separate clipper for your bird.
2. Keep a blood clotting powder on hand at all times, and not just for clipping. You can buy commercial Styptic Powder, or you can also use flour and cornstarch.
3. NEVER use Styptic Powder on skin! It will burn!
4. Always use two people when clipping nails. One will hold the bird, the other will clip the nails.
5. Give your bird a treat after the clipping is over. She'll be frightened from being restrained and need reassurance that everything is ok.
What You Need:
•
Nail
clippers designed for pets
•A
towel just large enough to wrap about your bird's body
•A
blood clotting powder like flour, cornstarch, or Styptic Powder
How To Towel Your Bird
Toweling can be used to restrain a bird for a physical examination, wing and nail clipping, or to give the bird medication. You should know how to properly towel your bird, because you never know when you’ll need to do it.
Here's How:
1. You will probably need two people for this job. One will towel and hold the bird, the other will do the examination, administer medication, clip the wings or the nails, etc.
2. Take a towel that is just slightly larger than your bird. For small birds you can probably use a washcloth. For larger birds a hand-towel might suffice, or a larger bath towel.
3. If your bird is especially nervous, dim the lights a bit and be sure that there is nothing in the room that she could fly into and injure herself (cover windows, turn off the ceiling fan, close all doors).
4. Hold the towel with the ends draped over each hand and approach your bird calmly.
5. Place the towel over and around your bird’s back. Wrap your hand around so that the middle of your hand is on the bird’s back and your thumb and forefinger meet around the bird’s neck. They should meet just below her lower beak.
6. The bird’s wings should be tucked in to her sides. They should not be flapping around in the towel. Hold the bird tight enough to restrict her struggling, but not too tight.
7. Take care not to squeeze the bird’s belly. Birds do not have a diaphragm and they cannot breathe if they are unable to expand their chests.
8. Don’t cover the bird’s head completely with the towel. Most birds will chew on whatever they can get into their beaks, so expect a few holes.
9. Use a soothing voice while talking to your bird. Being toweled can be very stressful for your bird.
10. Reassure your bird when everything is over. Tell her she was a good bird, cuddle her if she’s up for it, or give her a treat.
Tips:
1. Use two people.
2. Always handle your bird gently -- too much pressure or force could break a toe, leg, or wing.
3. Do not compress your bird's belly or she will not be able to breathe.
4. Practice toweling your bird and feeding her warmed baby food out of a syringe to keep her used to being toweled, and associating it with something pleasant.
What You Need:
•A
towel that is appropriately sized to your bird
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