Bea
04-19-2006, 12:51 AM
Somebody on another forum suggested i take a photo of me clipping a budgies nails so people could see how it's done. If you don't know what you're doing it's waaaaaay easier to wrap the budgie in a face cloth or something but with Ozzie as my roll model i figuired i could do without as he's so calm and relaxed and doesn't bite. :P
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e346/blink_oz_mig/meandsarahandnailclip004Small.jpg
It's really not hard to do, get some mini nail clippers (easier than using the toenail size ones) and gently hold your budgie. Gently hold one of their feet in your fingers (you might need a second person to hold while you clip, it can be fiddly finding enough fingers to hold the budgie, hold the foot and clip!) and then carefully clip the very end of each toenail. You have to be extremely careful not to clip the little vein in each toenail. If your budgie is helpful like Ozzie he'll have pink toenails making seeing the vein VERY easy:
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e346/blink_oz_mig/19April2006-ToenailsandCuteness012-.jpg
However, not all budgies have pink toenails. Blinkie's toenails have dark tips so while i can still see the vein it's not quite as easy:
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e346/blink_oz_mig/19April2006-ToenailsandCuteness009-.jpg
Some budgies have almost completely black toenails which is just annoying because obviously it makes clipping VERY tricky, but if you look REALLY closely you should still be able to figuire it out and as long as you only clip a tiny bit at a time you should be safe. Keep some flour nearby just incase you do cut too far, if your budgies toenail starts to bleed get a pinch of flour and rub it into the end of the toenail, this will stop the bleeding. If you do cut to far don't be concerned if your budgie stands on one foot for a while. It's like when you cut your fingernails too far, it is uncomfortable. They get over it pretty quickly, if they don't then you should get them checked by a vet just to be on the safe side. :)
If you're not comfortable or unsure it's always wise to get someone experienced (vet, breeder, etc) to show you how to clip nails properly. :)
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e346/blink_oz_mig/meandsarahandnailclip004Small.jpg
It's really not hard to do, get some mini nail clippers (easier than using the toenail size ones) and gently hold your budgie. Gently hold one of their feet in your fingers (you might need a second person to hold while you clip, it can be fiddly finding enough fingers to hold the budgie, hold the foot and clip!) and then carefully clip the very end of each toenail. You have to be extremely careful not to clip the little vein in each toenail. If your budgie is helpful like Ozzie he'll have pink toenails making seeing the vein VERY easy:
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e346/blink_oz_mig/19April2006-ToenailsandCuteness012-.jpg
However, not all budgies have pink toenails. Blinkie's toenails have dark tips so while i can still see the vein it's not quite as easy:
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e346/blink_oz_mig/19April2006-ToenailsandCuteness009-.jpg
Some budgies have almost completely black toenails which is just annoying because obviously it makes clipping VERY tricky, but if you look REALLY closely you should still be able to figuire it out and as long as you only clip a tiny bit at a time you should be safe. Keep some flour nearby just incase you do cut too far, if your budgies toenail starts to bleed get a pinch of flour and rub it into the end of the toenail, this will stop the bleeding. If you do cut to far don't be concerned if your budgie stands on one foot for a while. It's like when you cut your fingernails too far, it is uncomfortable. They get over it pretty quickly, if they don't then you should get them checked by a vet just to be on the safe side. :)
If you're not comfortable or unsure it's always wise to get someone experienced (vet, breeder, etc) to show you how to clip nails properly. :)