Parrot Forums - TalkParrots banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

How to clip your birds wing and nails

4K views 8 replies 5 participants last post by  Abby 
#1 ·
There has been a lot of questions reguarding wing and nail clipping and how to do it therefore I thought I would give you an idea on how to wing and nail clip.

Note before you clip your birds wings or nails please get your avain vet to show you how it is done and to find the right clip for you

First for wing clipping you need to know the difference between the Primary feathers, convert feathers and Secondary feathers.

Convert feathers
These feathers are purposly there to make the bird more streamline and to ensure the wind blows over the feathers easily. These feathers should not be cut as it can cause major flight problems for the bird.

Primary feathers
These feathers are there to reduce tension from the air so they can fly smoothly and these feathers are are the ones that you cut, they do not contain any veins or blood therefore are safe to cut if done properly.

Secondary feathers
These feathers move up or down to control the smoothness of the flight. These feathers do not get cut as they contain veins which, if cut, bleed and this can in major cases be fatal.

Here is what the convert, secondary and primary feathers look like:

Now this is how to clip your birds wings simply.

1) Get a towel or cloth and place this around the birds waist so that it has no way to struggle therefore you will not be jolted, which could produce you to cut a secondary feather.
If you do not know how to hold you bird viset here - http://adorablebudgies.co.uk/hold.php

2) Once in position, gently extend the birds wing so you are in view of all the extended feathers and the whole of the wing. This ensures you don't cut the wrong feathers by mistake.

3) Get your scissors and cut halfway up the Primary feathers on an angle such as this picture:



4) Afterwards it should look like this:



If you have clipped the Secondary feathers and it is now beggining to bleed make sure you apply corn flour onto the wound and this will clot it making it no longer bleed.

Always remeber to clip the other wing or your bird could become off balance and fly in circles. this can confuse the bird and it can hurt itself otherwise!

To buy wing clipping scissors viset -
http://www.petstore.com/ps_ViewItem.aspx?idproduct=FW01868&source=cj&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=CommissionJunction&utm_source=2329897


For more information viset this link - http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww19eii.htm

Now nails, which is near to the same procedure.

The quick
The quick is the vein in the nail which you are not meant to cut or it shall bleed.

Now to begin...

1) Get a towel or cloth and place this around the birds waist so that it has no way to struggle therefore you will not be jolted, which could produce you to cut up to the vein in the nail.
If you do not know how to hold you bird viset here - http://adorablebudgies.co.uk/hold.php

2) Get your scissors or nail clipping tool and place it at the tip of the nail making sure it is not on the vein so you don't cut the vein and make it bleed.

3) Cut the nail. And it should look like this.


Remeber to repeat this on all of the nails.
If the nail bleeds because you have cut the vein make sure you put corn flour on the wound so it stops the bleeding.
To buy a pair of nail clippers go to - http://www.windycityparrot.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=10401811005



For more information viset - http://www.pionusparrot.com/WingAndNailClipping.htm

Hope this has been helpful :)
 
See less See more
6
#2 ·
Very helpful!

This is a good post for those who aren't sure how to clip wings and trim feathers. Knowing this will help to ensure fewer accidents!

However, I hope people don't feel pressured to do this on their own. If you are unsure, just take your birds to a vet or someone who has more experience clipping and trimming. There's no problem with that, usually just a small fee. And before you ever try clipping or trimming alone, have a vet show you how to do it.

Thanks for the post! :)
 
#3 ·
EXCELLENT post on wing clipping! That's exactly how I clip my Parrotlet's wings. She takes care of her toenails herself - yipee!

I have my Conure's nails clipped at the bird shop where I bought her -- a bit chicken to do it myself! Right now, she's molting, and I'm letting her wing feathers grow out, just to see how she acts. She's almost 10 months old and they've always been clipped. My Parrotlet gets real cocky when she can fly, so I want to see how my Conure does. Besides, her wing feathers are a beautiful turquoise blue!!! Time will tell......
 
#4 ·
If you don't mind me adding to this post, but I did make a mini "instructional" video on how I clip my small birds wings and nails. It's not perfect and my methods aren't the same as everyone elses, but it's how I was trained. I was taught by a breeder who worked with birds for 30 years and have been grooming for... 6 years? I hope it helps you guys! This is how to do it alone and then with a helper

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jAWiPPcUP4"]YouTube - How to Clip Small Birds - Alone[/nomedia]

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OhnfwW0aUU"]YouTube - How to Clip Small Birds - 2 People[/nomedia]
 
#5 ·
Great videos, Jenny. :)

I always like watching videos with information in them about birds, especially when clipping and grooming, because it's just plainly hard to follow written instructions on how to do that stuff.
 
#6 ·
I just watched the vids, they're pretty cool and very informative. I was watching the one of Goober breakdancing. I love how you spin them and they're just like yayy!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jenny
#8 ·
I can tell. I love how she grabs onto you while you're doing it
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top