Cockatoos are very reactive to their physical changes, and they can resist if they are not comfortable. There are many actions which an owner has to take in order to maintain the good health of their cockatoo. In this article, I will discuss how to trim cockatoos’ nails.
Cockatoos’ nails can be trimmed with great care and attention. Firstly make yourself friendly with a cockatoo and make them sit in your hand. When you feel that your cockatoo is relaxed with you, then trim their nail with a nail clipper. Do not ever cut their nails too short because it can damage their blood vessels.
Trimming your cockatoos’ nails can be a difficult task because physical changes can make your cockatoos stressful. Your pet can feel anxiety and become afraid of you if it is not comfortable with you when you trim their nails. Their nails grow naturally and become too long if they are not trimmed properly.
Usually, In the wild, the nails of cockatoos get turned down or cut by hitting some branch or tree in the wild. But in captivity, their nails grow very long because there is no climbing and other activities. So, their nails should be trimmed on time. Let’s discuss how to trim cockatoos’ nails in steps.
Trimming of Cockatoos Nails:
Trimming cockatoos’ nails can be a daunting task for them. They can resist cutting their nails because they are very sensitive to the physical changes taking place in their body. You need to have a close bond with your feather fellow to trim their nails.
You will have to keep your pet calm throughout the trimming process. Always clip a small part of the nail to avoid quick cuts and bleeding. In their nails, there is a blood vessel, so always check the endpoint of the blood vessel to avoid bleeding.
If your cockatoo bleeds, use a blood clotting powder from the market to stop the flow of blood. See a vet as soon as possible if you feel any severe problems. Cockatoo’s long nails can cause problems when walking, climbing, and keeping the feet in the correct position.
When the feet are not positioned correctly due to long nails, it will cause worse problems. Wearing down their nails is important for their proper walk and the normal positioning of their feet. You have to take care of many steps during the trimming of your cockatoo’s nails. Let’s discuss these steps in detail.
Step 1: Make Sure That Your Cockatoo Is Bonded With You:
Always notice the body language of your cockatoo while doing anything with them. In the case of trimming their nails, it is very mandatory to have a close bond with them. The experience of trimming nails can be traumatic for these parrots, but if they are comfortable and not afraid of you, it will be quite a normal process.
So, always make sure that your pet is bonded with you, then cut their nails. Cockatoos always remember those who do something horrifying to them. If you feel that your pet is not close to you, then ask anyone else or a vet to trim their nails.
So, in order to develop a strong bond with your cockatoo, it is very compulsory to make them relax and be friendly with you. In order to check the bond, observe the behavior of your pet in front of you.
- When Cockatoos are comfortable and affectionate with their owners, they whistle and sing in front of them, and it shows their frankness towards their owners.
- Cockatoos can also show some body movements. Such as nodding their head or wagging their tail, in order to convey their happiness.
- When cockatoo is happy with their caretakers, they flap their wings when they see them.
When you observe these changes, feel that your cockatoo is ok with you, and it will allow you to trim their nails.
Step 2: Assemble the required material for trimming:
Trimming of nails can be stressful for your cockatoos so, every material needed for trimming must be gathered on time. So that you should not scramble for any equipment while trimming. In order to trim and file the nails of your cockatoo, you need the following things.
- The nail clipper is a mandatory item while trimming nails; a pair of nail clippers must be available to you. The blade will be hard for them. You can use your toenail cutter for their nail trimming.
- A towel is also very important, and it must be of white color. Sometimes, Cockatoos get afraid of different colored towels. You have to wrap a towel around it, so it must be available while trimming.
- Always identify the blood vessel and then cut the nail, but if you hit the vessel, it will cause bleeding. So, Blood stopping powder is very compulsory. In case if their nails bleed, you can use that powder to stop bleeding.
Step 3: Wrap Your Cockatoo in Towel and ensure it grasp your finger:
Wrapping the cockatoos’ bodies with white towels is necessary in order to avoid any injury to them. You should wrap them like their head is out of the towel, and the rest of the body must be covered. After covering, allow your cockatoo to grasp your finger.
When your cockatoos grasp the finger on their own, it will make it comfortable while trimming. You should gently hold the head of your cockatoo with your hand and then start trimming their nails. You can also take the assistance of your fellow or friend so that he can hold the head of your pet, and you can easily trim the nails.
Step 4: Identify your cockatoos quick and trim their nails:
Always observe the quick (Nerve ending point of the blood vessel) in their nails. You should not cut them while trimming because it can cause injury. Try to identify the blood vessel in their nails, and if you can not make it identify, then go to veterans for this.
During clipping of nails, if you cut the blood vessel, then bleeding will start. So, in order to avoid these things you should take care of them.
Step 6: After Trimming Give Some Treat to Your cockatoo:
You have to relax your cockatoo by associating the clipping of nails with positive things, like appreciation or something to eat. When your cockatoos get their nails trimmed, then give them some parrot treats. This treat will act as positive reinforcement, and your pet will not become stressed for the second time.
Step 5: Observe Cockatoos Behavior while Trimming:
Always observe your cockatoo’s expression and body postures during the trimming process. Some cockatoos become very tense and stressed during clipping, and they stop their breath.
When your pet stops their breath or rolls their eyes back, then immediately stops trimming their nails. Place them back in their cage and try to make them relaxed and comfortable.
Conclusion:
In my opinion, trimming cockatoos’ nails is a challenging process, and it should be dealt with great care and attention. Before cutting, try to consider the steps mentioned earlier. Cockatoos are very sensitive to body actions, and they can feel pain. So, they must be handled with care and observe their behavior and expressions. If they are not happy with trimming, leave them and consult a veteran.
Also Read About: How to Bathe a Cockatoo?
