Handling Birds : Section 4

TRIMMING BEAKS, CLAWS AND FEATHERS

- Have You ever wondered .....

Why do birds in the wild rarely need to have their beaks, claws or feathers trimmed?

Why do we often trim the beaks, claws and/or feathers of pet birds and sometimes of aviary birds?

What instruments? What precautions? What risks? How often? How do we do it?

These notes will help answer most of these questions.

- Birds Flying Free

Birds flying free have to use their beaks and claws constantly to survive. Normal use helps maintain the natural shape and length of the beak and claws (nails). However, wild birds that succumb to diseases such as Psittacine Beak and Feather Circavirus infection or Scaly mite infection often do develop overgrown or deformed beaks and/or claws. Injury may also cause beaks or claws to grow too long or become deformed.

Such overgrowth or deformity often affects their ability to survive. Many die prematurely or are killed.

It is only when they come to our notice, and can then be caught, that we help them. Birds in the wild very rarely need to have their feathers trimmed! To do so would disable them

For more indepth knowledge on this topic click on "buy this section" below or log in to make an appointment with Dr Ross Perry.

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