Nail and beak trimming

Sapper

Registered
Hello, I am a new member. I have a new alexandrine parrot who needs her nails and beak trimming urgently. I am a 79 year old veteran living alone. I have dementia, poor vision and mobility problems. Nobody I have emailed has responded. Travel is difficult. I live in South Manchester. Kind regards to all. Sapper
 
Welcome, we shall all try and advise best we can. Has your bird ever had her beak & nails trimmed before? also can you post up a photo so we can see her please.
 
Hello dianaT, Thank you for your response. I'm afraid I am very bad with IT and following instructions in websites. Also I don't have a camera except the one on my PC. I don't have a smart phone - too complicated. I will try to find a neighbour who could photograph Bertie for me. I am new here.
The people I bought Bertie from on Pets4Homes said Bertie had had her beak/nails trimmed but I don't know when. Bertie will be 2yrs old in September. I have never had a parrot before but I watch YouTube on care and advice. But I am sure I am making mistakes. I hope you can help - it's not fair on Bertie to remove her from my head and has because she is breaking my skin - I also worry about her chewing cables.
Kind regards
Sapper
 
Hello and welcome, I sympathise with you as Dora has sharp nails and I end up wearing thick Tshirts even in the heat, and luckily I have thick hair.
If you look at the menu bar you will see "search forums ", and you will find that people often choose to use textured perches and chewing toys to keep beaks and nails trimmed. Other than that many people take their bird to the vets for this to be done.
As far as chewing cables etc goes you are probably best off hiding or wrapping all cables etc., and have to be very vigilant!
Does your bird respond to a form "no" , somehow my husband has managed to get Dora to stop doing things when he says "no" in a certain tone of voice. Maybe the training pages will also help. Others will be along to respond to you too. 🙂
 
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Can you give Bertie cuttlefish to crunch on - you can make a hole in it and tie it on her cage, also safe wood too such as hazel, willow, apple branches these all help to trim down the beak, also perches made of those woods too will help not only the beak but claws. You can purchase a perch that helps to keep claws trim sanded perches and swings, have a look on www.northernparrots,com you will find various ones on there, although it may take Bertie a while to get used to.
 
Wendy Cooper-Wolfe said:
Hello and welcome, I sympathise with you as Dora has sharp nails and I end up wearing thick Tshirts even in the heat, and luckily I have thick hair.
If you look at the menu bar you will see "search forums ", and you will find that people often choose to use textured perches and chewing toys to keep beaks and nails trimmed. Other than that many people take their bird to the vets for this to be done.
As far as chewing cables etc goes you are probably best off hiding or wrapping all cables etc., and have to be very vigilant!
Does your bird respond to a form "no" , somehow my husband has managed to get Dora to stop doing things when he says "no" in a certain tone of voice. Maybe the training pages will also help. Others will be along to respond to you too. 🙂
Click to expand...
Hello Wendy and thank you for your advice. I have dementia and struggle navigating websites and stuff. I'll try to find out how to use the forum.
My old army beret is best for protecting my bald head, and a rugby shirt. Bertie does indeed respond to my 'NO!' and she will desist - but not for long!
I can't find a vet or anyone else to trim her nails. I'll keep trying or I'll bleed to death.
I am working on the cable problem
Kind regards
Sapper
 
dianaT said:
Can you give Bertie cuttlefish to crunch on - you can make a hole in it and tie it on her cage, also safe wood too such as hazel, willow, apple branches these all help to trim down the beak, also perches made of those woods too will help not only the beak but claws. You can purchase a perch that helps to keep claws trim sanded perches and swings, have a look on www.northernparrots,com you will find various ones on there, although it may take Bertie a while to get used to.
Click to expand...
Hi Diana. Bertie has one of those rough perches, and tons of destructible wooden toys, and I keep supplying odd branches. She has cuttlefish too. I have to attach everything with clothes-hanger wire as she destroys anything less.
Sapper
 
Hi and welcome to the forum to you and your feathered friend.
They do so love to chew things which is what keeps their beaks trimmed down.
At two years old your bird shouldn't need nails or beak trimming so no idea why they have already done that to your bird that confuses me somewhat. As Diana said if you can get somebody to add a photo we will happily advise and help you and your bird so that you don't need to get nails and beak trimmed :) Branches from things like apple trees or willow trees are great for keeping the nails trimmed down and they also get to chew on them so your doing the right thing supplying those already :)
 
DizzyBlue said:
Hi and welcome to the forum to you and your feathered friend.
They do so love to chew things which is what keeps their beaks trimmed down.
At two years old your bird shouldn't need nails or beak trimming so no idea why they have already done that to your bird that confuses me somewhat. As Diana said if you can get somebody to add a photo we will happily advise and help you and your bird so that you don't need to get nails and beak trimmed :) Branches from things like apple trees or willow trees are great for keeping the nails trimmed down and they also get to chew on them so your doing the right thing supplying those already :)
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Thank you DizzyBlue. I will try to get my neighbour to take some photos ASAP.
Sapper
 
I now have some photos of Bertie but I am struggling to send them. They may have to come one at a time
Sapper
 
If I am reading that leg ring fully then your bird is older than two that ring says 08 (abbreviation for 2008) which would make your bird 16 but that's if the ring is a PSUK ring if not then ignore me on that one. Even if the bird is 16 it doesn't matter as they live in to their late 30's and early 40's All that really matters is that your bird has a good home :)

My oldest bird is an African Grey 44 and she rungs rings around me some days never know what mischief she is going to get up to next :)
 
trying again
#Sapper
DizzyBlue said:
If I am reading that leg ring fully then your bird is older than two that ring says 08 (abbreviation for 2008) which would make your bird 16 but that's if the ring is a PSUK ring if not then ignore me on that one. Even if the bird is 16 it doesn't matter as they live in to their late 30's and early 40's All that really matters is that your bird has a good home :)

My oldest bird is an African Grey 44 and she rungs rings around me some days never know what mischief she is going to get up to next :)
Click to expand...
I don't know how many photos got through. Even trying one produces the message 'File too Large'. I have no IT skills!
It is worrying that Bertie may be 16 not 16 months - not sure why. I need to check out that ring - I know nothing about this at all.
Thanks Sapper
 
OK DizzyBlue, just found your first reply telling Bertie's beak and nails are fine. Thank you - but I don't remember her piercing my skin at first. I've had her only a couple of months.
Thanks
 
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