How do u clip nails of medium sized parrots

[Parrotkeeper02]

I recently got a red lorikeet and it was handreared but it's nails were long and it hurt when he stepped up onto my finger how would u properly clip nails?
plz help
Ps no avain vets in area

[liz]

It takes two people if you really need to do it yourself. The amount of nail to be trimmed is the very tip that curves. You can also use an emery board to take the tip off.
You can take it to the Avian Vet or pet groomer.
I suggest you take it to a vet and get a checkup while there.

You really need to find the Avian Vet closest to you and put it in your GPS. Emergencies come up and you need to prepare for them. Even if he is 2 hours away you need to find him.
Take your bird to that Vet and check him out. While there tell him your distance and ask him if there is a Avian vet in your area or a reg vet that he can work with.

[Pajarita]

Use Sweetfeet perches and you won't need to clip its nails.

[Parrotkeeper02]

Thanks liz btw the closest avian vet is really far caus we live in the country but we do have one for emergencies

[Wolf]

I also live out in the sticks, so to speak as the closest town is 11 miles away and the closest avian vet is a two hour drive one way. But I think that the safest way to learn how to trim their nails would be to have the vet show you how to do it. I use the same type of perch as Pajarita does and have no problems with my birds nails.

[Parrotkeeper02]

Yeah wolf i use sandy/cement perches in the cage its caus the bird is new and the person I got him from didn't take very good care of him thanks

[Wolf]

I don't use many of the cement perches or the sand coated ones either because most of them are too rough and don't work as well as not having a smooth place for the foot to rest on. The sandy area only needs to be on the sides where it will contact the nails and not the rest of the foot. I think the other ones are not good for their feet. I only use the conditioning perches at their food and water dishes and a soft one up high for sleeping on. Mostly I use tree branches that I cut myself.

[Pajarita]

Yep, same here. No concrete or sand perches for my birds. They are both bad on their feet. Natural tree branches with the bark on them and a SweetFeet perch of the right size for a roosting one is all they need in the long run.

But, if this bird is young and has such long claws that you are considering clipping them, there has to be something wrong aside from the breeder not using the right perches because claws don't grow that fast so babies simply do not have enough time to grow them very long.

[Parrotkeeper02]

Sweetfeet perches sound great but where do I get them from I'm not allowed online shopping and the pet stores here in NZ don't sell then only the cement ones/sandy and oyster shell grit ones I am gonna see where I can buy one

[Parrotkeeper02]

what are sweet feet perches made of pumice caus I can get heaps of cheap pumice perches