Can I trim Mitchell's nails?

[GillyMack]

Mitchell is getting very good at "step up" etc and loves to climb up to my shoulder,but I am starting to sport some serious scratches along both arms. He is not scared and has a very light touch but his nails are very sharp. What sort of care can I give them to help make our play time more comfortable for me.
Gilly and The Major

[GreenWing]

No, absolutely do not do it yourself if you are not experienced in this area. You could cut too deeply and your bird could bleed to death. Take your bird to a professional... like an Avian vet clinic or exotic bird shop that offers this service... hope that helps!

[GillyMack]

Thanks. I haven't looked into a vet yet, but will investigate the avian friendly ones.

[Wayne361]

If you just trim the very tips off, i.e. the sharp edges, you will be fine. If the bird allows you is another story

Wayne

[marie83]

I wouldnt recommend doing it yourself to start with until you have been shown properly and are confident you can handle your bird well enough. Its far too easy to make a mistake with a wriggling bird. You can always attempt to file them down rather than trim them but it will be much better all roundiif you can gradually train your bird to allow it rather than wade straight in and risk destroying trust. In the meantime wear clothes which are more protective or grin and bear it lol

[Pajarita]

Dremels work great for blunting sharp tips but, again, the bird has to allow you to do it or you have to know how to towel properly.

[Wayne361]

Too many fraidy cats. If you just trim end of nail you are fine. As for fidgetty birds and/or birds that resist nail trimming, now is the time to train bird to tolerate, if not enjoy, the experience. With Oscar I first desensitized him to the clippers, then touched feet with clippers reward. Forgot touch while holding Oscar on his back in hand. Continue this till bird is comfortable. Then hold talon, touch with clippers reward. Repeat till bird is fully comfortable. Then hold talon and gently apply a tiny bit of pressure from clippers on nail. reward. Repeat this till it is comfortable and expected by bird. Now you have a bird that isnt squirming/resisting so you can now take your time and ensure a proper clip is performed. Once you do proper clip praise/reward.
Positive reinforcement does the job once again.

Wayne

[Pajarita]

My dear, you have a Senegal, a bird that likes getting on its back and would not only do it for the fun of it (my female does it when I sing a lullaby to her -my grandkids get a real kick out of it, they call it 'rocking the babybird to sleep' because I sing the same song I did to them when they were babies) and, when they do, you can hold them in the palm of your hand but cockatoos are MUCH larger and do NOT like laying on their back so, yes, you are absolutely right that desensitizing works and it should always be done but it takes a very looooong time and cockatoos claws pierce your skin and make bleeding holes when they perch on your hand so the first order of business is to blunt the tips asap - plenty of time to work on the desensitizing later on.

[Wayne361]

It was the methodology rather than exact specifics. One should extrapolate specifics based on positive reinforcement techniques. I have a friend with a cockatoo and I showed him the basics....now bird will lift his feet up when he sees trimmer.
Agreed if urgent then another course of action should be taken.
I am illustrating a long term positive approach....

Wayne

[GreenWing]

I am sorry but I will NEVER advocate a person trimming their own bird's nails without the prior experience of being shown how to do it. I have heard stories of people in the know, of inexperienced people doing this, and, not knowing what they were doing, they cut too deep, and the bird ended up dying. Trimming a parrot's nails is not something to be taken lightly, especially for the inexperienced.

You COULD file your own parrot's nails a bit (if they'll let you, lol). But actually trimming them? No, too risky IMO if you don't know what you're doing. Your bird is too important. Better safe than sorry, I say.