Nail Clipping & Crustiness

[sunshine* 0]

First of all, I'm Back!

 

But the real issue is...

 

Last night I got my budgies back after they had been in mums aviary for 2ish years.

 

My first problem with them is a few of them have sort of crusting on their cere and beak... I have treated them with Ivomec Pour-On for Cattle and was just wondering if there was anything else i could do for them?

 

secondly, one of the boys has seriously over grown nails and was wondering if anyone had any tips on cutting them? or would it be easier to take him to the vet?

A few of the others nails are long too, but no where near as bad as his .

 

I did get some photos before, i'm just waiting for photobucket to upload them..

Edited August 9, 2010 by KAZ

[**KAZ** 0]

Great that you used the ivermectin. Nothing more you can do but wait. Two weeks generally see huge improvement.

 

I have never clipped budgies nails so I'll leave that to someone else

[Squeak_Crumble 0]

I have clipped both budgies and cockatiels nails. I find it is easier with two people when your starting, but possible with one. I use scissors or nail clippers. If you have birds with clear nails, it is easier. In the birds nails there is a thing called "quick" or basically, the blood in the nail. If you clip to far, you clip into the blood and if not cared for, budgies may die from blood loss (extreme circumstances)

 

I just clip the minimum, I have never got to the quick. It is quite eay. Get one person the hold birds, then use one hand to hold birds foot, and other to clip. Make sure you have a firm grip on the foot, because you dont want the bird moving.

 

Here is a picture to help:

http://www.kaytee.com/assets/005/22037.gif

[Finnie 0]

I agree with Squeak. Not only do you not want the bird moving, but you also want to make sure your view is good, so you can see clearly. There' no room for estimating where you think the quick is.

 

One way I have found to make a bird hold still better, is to have it wrapped loosely in a small rag so that it's head is shrouded. They struggle less that way.

 

Personally, I prefer to leave the nails alone, unless their length seems to be a danger to the bird, so I only did this one time.

 

Oh, and by the way, welcome back! I'm happy for you that you get to have your birds back!

[Squeak_Crumble 0]

Forgot to add - Try putting a rough nail perch in their cage to help keep nails down

[**KAZ** 0]

Forgot to add - Try putting a rough nail perch in their cage to help keep nails down

I wouldnt. These perches are responsible for many a foot injury, bumblefoot etc in budgies. Not necessary at all.

[maesie 0]

Agree with Kaz on the rough nail perch. I'd put some natual branches in there... they're rough enough for their nails and they'll have fun pulling them apart too!

[sunshine* 0]

They have gumtree branches in their cages.

 

I miraculously measures, the boy who's nails are really bad this morning, they are 4cm long and growing straight down and are sort of curling :/

 

One of the girls, her nails are growing around and back up nearly into her foot, so I am going to do hers aswell, to prevent anything serious.

 

The rest seem to be fine though.

 

As far as crustiness goes, they are looking better today!

 

Although cloud has some sort of staining around his beak and on top of his cere :/ It looks like blood, but now of the feathers are damaged and he isn't moulting as far as I can tell..

I'll get a photo..

Edited August 10, 2010 by sunshine*

[splat 0]

I use that sand paper stuff once and the poor little birds feet ended up bleeding, never again.

I cut my breeding birds nails with nail clippers, just the very end as you must be very careful.

[**KAZ** 0]

This nail issue can also be attributed to scalyface mites which also affect the feet.

[sunshine* 0]

Just reading through my old posts and thought I would update this one.

 

The "crustiness" cleared up and I clipped the boys nails myself, but took the girl to the vet to get hers done (because she is scary and goes crazy when you touch her )

 

Their nails have been fine since

 

I never did work out what was going on with Cloud's face :/ It cleared up after a couple of days so I just left it and he has been fine..

Edited June 26, 2011 by sunshine*