Many cockatiel owners agree that clipping a cockatiel’s nails isn’t the easiest task. But, it is necessary from time to time to preserve your cockatiel’s health and comfort, as well as to maintain your safety. Some owners prefer to take their cockatiel to the vet for a nail clip, while others learn to do it themselves at home. But, do you need to clip the cockatiel’s nails?
Do You Need To Clip Cockatiel’s Nails? Cockatiel’s nails need to be clipped because otherwise, they can quickly get out of hand. If they become too long, they can begin to curl down into the cockatiel’s feet, causing him severe pain and discomfort.
That is why it’s important to take good care of your cockatiel’s nails. Some owners may prefer to take their cockatiel to a professional, but I have found that it is much quicker and cheaper to do it at home.
However, clipping a cockatiel’s nails is a necessary job for every cockatiel owner. If you have ever been scratched by a cockatiel’s claws, you know how sharp and painful they can be.
So, read on to find out why and when cockatiels need their nails trimmed, and discover some of our best tips to make it an easier experience for you both.
How Long Should A Cockatiel’s Nails Be?
If you are wondering how long a cockatiel’s nails should be, you may be seeking to evade an important task that many cockatiel owners dread.
In their natural habitats, the active lifestyle of wild cockatiels including foraging, climbing trees, and perching on a variety of branches is effective at keeping nail length in check.
But captive cockatiels often do not have the opportunity to exercise their natural behaviors. This means the nails of pet cockatiels will need to be trimmed.
Trimming your cockatiel’s nails is necessary for a cockatiel’s health.
However, cockatiel nail length should be determined by your cockatiel’s level of comfortable based on its movement and body language. A cockatiel with overly long nails will have difficulty walking, grasping objects, and climbing.
You can take your cockatiel to a vet for nail clipping, or you can trim your cockatiel’s nails at home. Once the cockatiel’s nails have been clipped, various textured perches can keep a cockatiel’s nails short.
How To Tell If Your Cockatiel’s Nails Are Too Long?
The frequency with which you will have to trim your cockatiel’s nails varies, depending on its species, health, and what’s in its environment to wear down its nails.
If you are not sure whether your cockatiel needs a nail trim, there are some signs to look for that can help you determine when the time is right.
However, if your cockatiel’s nails are overgrown, you will notice the following signs:
1. Too long nails
This is one of the most obvious signs that your cockatiel needs a nail trim. If you are a new cockatiel owner, it’s not easy to recognize a normal nail vs one that is overgrown.
Ask help from your vet to become familiar with your cockatiel’s nail anatomy. This is the best way to judge whether your cockatiel needs a nail trim, as well as to notice whether it’s developing any health issues.
2. Changes in perching behavior
One of the main reasons that something is amiss with your cockatiel’s feet is a change to its normal perching behavior. Any kind of change in the way your cockatiel normally perches and carries itself is a cause for concern.
If your cockatiel’s nails are too long, it makes perching uncomfortable. If that is the case, a nail trim should resolve this abnormal behavior fairly quickly.
But, if your cockatiel doesn’t improve, it could be a sign of a foot injury or a potentially serious health issue. So, it’s best to see your vet as soon as possible if your cockatiel’s perching behavior becomes abnormal.
3. Difficulty getting around
Cockatiels use their feet for walking, climbing, playing with toys, and holding on to perches. So, if their nails aren’t kept well, many aspects of their lives can be affected.
However, if you notice your cockatiel’s nails getting stuck on your clothing, food, or on other surfaces, then it’s definitely time for a trim. Nails that are a healthy length should give your cockatiel ease to climb and move around.
4. Abnormal patches on your cockatiel’s skin
If you’ve been noticing abnormal patches on your cockatiel’s skin such as rough skin or scabs, then a nail trim might be in order.
Like many other animals, cockatiels use their nails to scratch and relieve itches all over their bodies. But, cockatiels with overgrown nails are prone to accidentally scratching themselves too hard. This sometimes can cause bleeding or abrasions.
5. Scratches to your hand
Can you comfortably hold your cockatiel without getting painful scratches all over your hands? If not, then it’s likely time to clip those nails.
In many cases, it is normal to be able to feel your cockatiel’s nails. However, if you are unable to hold your cockatiel because you are getting scratched, then you should opt for a nail clip.
How To Clip Cockatiel Nails?
Can you clip a cockatiel’s nails? If you are a new owner, you may feel that this is a daunting task. But clipping the nails is not stressful once you know what you are doing and have gained some experience.
To do this you will need a good relationship with your cockatiel. If your cockatiel doesn’t trust you yet, it won’t let you hold it still as you approach it with the nail clippers. So, first, you will need to be bonded with your cockatiel.
For practical assistance, ask your vet to demonstrate how to perform the procedure. This is the safest way, especially if your cockatiel has dark nails where it’s harder to see quickly.
To clip your cockatiel’s nails, follow these steps:
1. Prepare your materials
Before you start, prepare all of the materials and tools you will need for the job. You will need these materials:
- Towel to wrap the cockatiel and keep it still.
- Clippers. Depending on the size of the nails, you can use unisex pet clippers.
- Nail file. Cockatiel’s nails can be sharp after clipping, so some owners use nail files to sand them down.
- Styptic powder (hemostatic powder). To stop if there is a flow of blood.
If you accidentally clip your cockatiel’s quick (the blood vessel inside its nail), the styptic powder will stop the bleeding. Astringents in it induce tissue to constrict, closing the blood vessel that has broken.
Also, hemostatic powder is commonly used in human surgeries to stop internal bleeding. For use on your cockatiel, get one that is labeled as bird-safe.
Some pet owners choose to use a nail grinder over clippers. This is a smaller, animal-specific version of a Dremel polishing tool.
2. Wrap your cockatiel in a towel
Nail clipping can be a worrying experience for cockatiels. For this reason, cockatiels will attempt to fly away as soon as you start the procedure.
However, the easiest way to keep your cockatiel still is to wrap it in a towel.
Choose towels with a light, neutral color, because cockatiels may get scared of brightly, colored towels. White, pale grey, and beige work well.
Also, the towel must be large enough to wrap around your cockatiel’s body at least twice.
Holding your cockatiel still with one hand, wrap the towel around its body. Wrap it firmly so that your cockatiel can’t move its wings, but not so tightly that it causes discomfort. Ask a friend to assist if you are finding the process difficult.
Also, you can cover their head and eyes with a towel, so they can’t see what is happening. Uncovered the eyes if it seems to stress your cockatiel.
3. Let your cockatiel grasp your finger
Once securely wrapped in a towel, lift the end of the towel, so that its feet will be exposed. Ensure that all your supplies are next to you.
Allow your cockatiel to grasp your finger with its toes. Ideally, this should be your non-dominant hand, as you will be using your other hand to perform the clipping. If you are right-handed, let your cockatiel perch on your left hand.
Your cockatiel should grasp your index finger so that your thumb remains free. In this way, you can elevate each toe individually using your thumb. This will make it easier to clip each nail individually.
Also, another option is to tilt your cockatiel backward and let it rest against a cushion or the arm. If you have a friend there with you, ask them to hold the cockatiel for you.
4. Clip the tip of each nail
Now that your cockatiel has perched its foot on your hand, you are ready to start clipping its nails. Your cockatiel may start struggling to break free at this point, so hold it securely.
However, before you start clipping the nails, you should identify the quick. This is the blood vessel that runs through the center of the nail. If you accidentally cut the quick, the nail will start to bleed and your cockatiel will be in pain.
However, it will be easiest for you if your cockatiel has light-colored nails. In this way, you will be able to see the quick through the nail. It looks like a red or pink vein. When trimming the nail, stop before you reach the quick. Only cut the tip of the nail.
On the other hand, if your cockatiel has dark or black nails, you may not be able to see the quick.
In this case, you should take your cockatiel to a vet rather than attempting the procedure yourself.
Also, be aware not to cut too much of the nail, or your cockatiel may have trouble climbing.
Once you have finished, reward your cockatiel with a treat. In this way, it will develop a pleasurable and positive experience by having its nails clipped.
5. Stop if your cockatiel becomes distressed
Nail trimming can be a stressful experience for cockatiels
. After all, it’s not something that they would naturally have to deal with in the wild. Being physically constrained might be uneasy and fearful.
How stressed your cockatiel becomes will depend on its personality and the strength of its bond with you. If you have a trusting relationship with your cockatiel, it’s likely to tolerate a nail trim.
However, if you notice your cockatiel is struggling to breathe, stop attempting to clip its nails and keep still for a few minutes. A short break is often sufficient to calm your cockatiel down.
Also, speak in a soothing tone to encourage your cockatiel to relax.
You should also stop trimming if your cockatiel is squirming too much. A cockatiel will not be kept still increases the risk of injury.
Best Cockatiel Nail Clippers
One of the best cockatiel nail clippers for beginners is these professional pet nail clippers (view product on Amazon).
These pet nail clippers can be a great option for beginners for these reasons:
- Very affordable at just ten dollars.
- Super easy to use (it makes a precise, safe cut with its semi-circular blades).
All you need to do is gently put your cockatiel’s nail against the blade and then lightly press down with the no-slip rubber handles.
The blades are sharp, so you will not struggle to cut your cockatiel’s nails.
These are definitely the best and most recommended pet nail clippers available online.
They are also quite secure because you can simply lock the clippers while not in use.
However, if you have recently adopted a baby cockatiel, you are going to buy clippers specifically for their nails.
These are the best nail clippers for baby cockatiels and are sold by JW Pet Company on Amazon.
These pet nail clippers are small, which makes them perfect for tiny nails.
They are also nice and sharp, so you can go quickly and only make minimal noise to help reduce your cockatiel’s anxiety while getting his nails clipped.
How Often To Clip Cockatiel Nails?
Cockatiels’ nails grow continuously, so they won’t stay short and blunt forever. Depending on their nutrition, cage arrangement, and climbing tendencies, cockatiels’ claws develop at varying rates.
After the first cut of your cockatiel’s nails, you may initially notice your cockatiel struggling to grasp, climb and balance. This may mean you’ve cut its nails too short, but an adjustment period is normal.
After a few days, your cockatiel will have learned how to adjust its grasp in line with its new nail length.
You should clip your cockatiel’s nails every time you notice that they are overgrown. However, there are no exact numbers for how often you should trim your cockatiel’s nails. It all depends on you. But, according to some research, it is necessary to trim your cockatiel’s nails once a month.
Also, pet cockatiels’ nails may grow faster than they can file them down. Within a few months, you will notice it’s time to get the clippers out again.
How To Keep Your Cockatiel Nails Short?
Most cockatiels adjust to having their nails cut. As they get used to the routine, your cockatiel will normally tolerate the experience better. However, there are things you can do to keep your cockatiel’s nails short naturally, such as:
- Real tree branches. Sterilize the branches before using them, whether you buy them from pet stores or collect them from the wild.
- Safety pumice perches. These feature a rough surface to rest the nails on but a smooth area for your cockatiel’s feet. Avoid perches that are shiny or slick.
- Braided ropes.
However, if you use a pumice perch, don’t keep it in the cage constantly. Every month, leave it in there for a few days. Sandpaper perches and perch covers should not be used as they can lead to foot sores.
Look for perches that are rough-textured but solid. Sand and other substances that could come loose from the perch shouldn’t be there because they pose a health risk if consumed.
