Susan Files Down her Budgies’ and Ducks’ Claws
February 16th 2009 21:00
Photo by Bastet78. Used in accordance with the terms of Wikimedia Commons’ GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts.
Hanging out with my sister Susan one day, I was showing her my latest photos of Butterscotch and Gingersnap when she asked me if Brett, their owner, clipped their claws. I said no as Brett was terrified of cutting into the quick. My ex-neighbour even offered to show Brett how to do it but Brett had no confidence in his claw-clipping abilities and turned down her offer.
My sister looked concerned so I added, “But Brett does have friends who clip their claws for him.”
Susan then told me she used to file her budgies’ and ducks’ claws.
Really? I didn’t know that. In all my years of living with our ducks and budgies I don’t recall anyone filing their claws.
Susan then told me how she used a nail filer to do it. She would hold the budgie in her hand while she filed away with the other. If it was a duck, she had to make sure it was positioned securely by holding it firmly against her body like a newborn baby before she started filing their claws. She said she filed slowly as to not to damage the quick.
Mystified, I asked her, “Didn’t the birds panic?”
“No,” she said. “They knew what I was doing.”
“Why file them in the first place?”
“Because their claws start to grow into curls and it gets uncomfortable for them to walk.”
Hmm. It does stand to reason. I wonder if there are scratching posts available for budgies and ducks. It would be wonderful for them to be able to keep their claws under control.
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Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Hardest for me is Binky bird, she doesnt live in her cage, so sandpaper wouldnt do any good. I cant catch her, so I cant hold her still while I do it. She used to sit on my hand while I used a pair of clippers to trim her nails down, but she wont sit still for me anymore, too cheeky.
Comment by Queenie
Quirky Folk
Quirky Queenie
Thanks for coming back. I haven't heard from you for a while.
As for your pointers, yes our ducks were timid ones so it would have been no trust issues there. I was amazed my sister had the foresight to think about their claws as it never occurred to me that they needed a trim.