QUESTION

[easleyblue]

I wanted to take Shorty to the vet and have his toes and wings trimmed....do you think it will traumatize him???  I wonder if he will hate me??  Will he then hate going in the car because he will think he is going back to the vet???  Will he flip out at the vet?  How will the vet control him???   Well if anyone has any advise it would be appreciated...thank.

[Ilovemygreys]

My birds love the car and do not mind the vet or going to the local bird store for grooming.  We try to take them for car rides often and expose them to social situations.  They do pretty well.  When the birds are at the vet they actually cling on tighter to me.  I just keep talking to them and they know that I am there.  Also - I love the vet we go to.  He is so calm with the birds and makes them feel safe when they visit.  He is actually the owner of several birds including greys.

So..I would maybe take him for a few car rides so that he sees that you will take him other places besides the vet.  Take him to the bird store and get him a toy. Also - if possible go to a vet that specializes in birds.  I also take their favorite treats with me and praise them for being good birds!!

Hope this helps.

paige

[karine]

It is usually good to get the birds used to having their feet and wings touched. I am trying to teach Sophie to "give" me her foot(one at a time ) and say"let me see your toes"....then I'll try to file them myself every so often. Then when we go to the vet, I'm hoping she'll be more willing to "show her toes"
It doesn't hurt them to trim wings when done properly, make sure you go to someone that knows what he is doing.

A while ago, I went to my vet, and while I was waiting, the vet went in a room with an African Grey inside. The Grey said" Hello, Doctor!!"........A pedicure?....Sure!!!!  That's what the owner refered to for toe trimming!!!! It was so cute!!!!

[ghandikaboo]

THe thing to remember with car rides is to keep them from getting frantic, because it is a new situation.  Make sure the temperature inside the car remains comfortable for them.  I think that using a bird carrier for transport is essential because you never know what your bird is going to do if something loud or upsetting happens,  this is one place where shoulder rides are a no go, for your safety and especially for your bird.  If handled properly by the person doing the grooming,  and your bird gets used to this as a routine visit then all should go well.  I've noticed that Ghandi gets a bit fussed about grooming and has on occasion blushed.  So I just bring a mister along, to cool down and keep him as calm as possible.  I don't like the place where I have to take her to get groomed, because my favorite handler/groomer there was fired for spending too much time fussing aver Ghandi and other birds in for grooming.  So I am a loss as to where to go now.  I was thinking that I could learn to do these things myself.  So I am researching this. but don't do it yourself if you have never clipped wings before, because you can run into a lot of trouble  and injure the bird.  I think going to your avian vet is a good idea, they should know how to handle this,  you will have to ask if they do this service,  don't go if they have no experience obviously.  KJ

[ghandikaboo]

Karine I like the "pedicure" idea,  what do you use to file her toes?  A dremel tool or a hand held manicure file?  KJ

[karine]

I use a hand held manicure file. It is more for her to get used to the idea. And if I manage to file a tiny bit each time, it helps too. I do let my avian vet do it along with the wing trimmings though . Sophie and Mindy are not really keen on it, but that way , I'm not the bad guy, they usually run to me once it's done and I cuddle them and make it all better

[easleyblue]

Shorty will allow me to file his nails too, but that takes forever, so I wanted someone to clip them.  I tried to clip them and he whined and I was too chicken to even try again.  I don't want him to get mad at me and I don't want to hurt him, so I'll try to take him to the vet soon.  Also, I got a lava rock perch at the last bird show in town, and that helps keep their nails dull, but doesn't really do anything for the length.

[linzy]

why are you clipping his wings ??

curious Linzy 

[ghandikaboo]

Llinzy, I'm in between on the wing clipping  I used to do it regularly so Ghandi wouldn't fly away when I took him outside.  But since I've been on this forum, I realize there is no safe way to take them outside without a harness on.  So I am going to get a harness, but still undecided about wing clipping.  I think I will not  and get ghandi used to the idea that we do dot go outside without a harness.  I read on this forum that it is better for them psychologically if they are unclipped.  What are you going to do with chaos?  KJ

[easleyblue]

I may not do the wings....they are not a real issue...it is the daggers on his feet that I can't live with....ouch!!

[ghandikaboo]

I agree ouch...  I am going to try some bamboo in the cage  untill i get him to the vet for a trim.  I like the pedicure idea, but I don't want him to start hating me.  KJ

[linzy]

nope, il leave her wings alone. I really cant see a point in clipping. It doesnt stop them flying unless you do a really close cut which is totally not fair on the bird.

But yea - il have to do the nails lmao! Cement perches are supposed to be amazing at keeping nails under control.

Linzy 

[ghandikaboo]

Yes I'm going to get one of these I think,  I had one for my lovebirds, and I think it worked, hard to tell though because they are so little compared to a grey, you don't even notice their little daggers.  I guess a size medium would work for a grey,  what size do you think?  KJ

[Laura]

I was all for clipping wings for "safety" but now I see how traumatized my TAG is. He keeps flinging himself off the cage jumping up and down flapping. My dad said he doesn't know what to do.

[karine]

They might have clipped him too short ...

Also Linzy, just keep in mind that if you don't keep Chaos's wings trimmed, he can fly out the door REALLY fast(ZOOM!!!!!).