How To Clip a Bird's Nails

Ask an avian vet, bird breeder, or pet store employee what will work best for your bird. For tiny finches, regular nail clippers can be used. For large parrots, you may need an electric nail grinder—no kidding!

Make sure all doors and windows in the room are closed.

Gently remove your bird from her cage.

If your bird is large, have a helper—wearing work gloves—hold her while you check her feet. If she’s small, hold her with one hand while you check her nails with the other.

Hold the bird’s foot up to the light. If she has pale nails, you can easily avoid nicking the vein inside the nail.

If your bird has dark nails, clip off only about one-sixteenth of an inch.

No matter how long the bird’s nails are, snip off only the short point at the end of each nail.

Work as quickly as you can. Pedicures are stressful for birds, so speak calmly and soothingly to your bird as you clip.

Don’t freak if you take off a little too much and the bird’s nail starts to bleed—this happens. Just wipe the nail gently with a paper towel and dip it into styptic powder. The bleeding should stop quickly.

When you’re done, return your bird to her cage and heave a sigh of relief. You two will get used to pedicures. Besides, you’ve just helped to protect her from hurting herself—and you—without the stress of a vet visit.