Twice annual routine health examinations are recommended for your pet bird. I will give your bird a complete physical examination, trim the beak and nails as needed, and trim the wings if desired to limit flight. I will do my best to answer all your questions. Wellness testing is done yearly to assess your bird “inside”.
Beak trims
Beaks continue growing throughout birds’ lives. Although birds’ beaks usually wear evenly, some birds develop beak problems and require veterinary assistance. Trimming its beak incorrectly can cause your bird pain and may prevent it from eating, which is why I recommend having your bird’s beak professionally trimmed. Call to schedule an appointment.
Toe nail trims
Most birds need to have their nails trimmed regularly. However, the process can be detrimental to your bird if its nails are trimmed too short. I can take care of this procedure for you so that you don’t have to worry about nicking the blood vessels inside the nails. Call to schedule an appointment.
Be careful if you perform this procedure at home. In fact, I only suggest that you attempt this at home if your bird is small and has white nails (which allow you to see the blood vessels). I also suggest you keep a caustic agent, such as styptic powder, on hand in case a nail bleeds.
Providing perches with rough surfaces can help reduce the frequency of nail trimming, but do not use sandpaper perches. They don’t wear down the nails and can cause skin problems.
Wing clipping
Clipping a bird’s feathers can protect your bird and your home. Wing clipping is a non-painful procedure that ensures the safety of your bird in its environment and keeps your bird from chewing holes in your doors and window frames. It limits your bird’s ability to fly, removing the risk of injury from flying into a ceiling fan, onto a hot stove-top, or into (or out of) a window.
Having your bird’s feathers professionally clipped helps ensure that the right feathers are removed without irritating the skin. Improperly clipped wings can cause your bird to pluck or chew its feathers. In addition, inexperienced wing clipping can result in a blood feather being accidentally trimmed, a situation that can become life-threatening. I can perform this procedure safely while preserving the aesthetic appearance of your bird. Please feel free to call me to discuss if this option is right for your bird, as well as any concerns you might have, or to set up an appointment.
Sexing
Unfortunately, relying on physical appearance is not an accurate method of determining the sex of many birds. I can easily, reliably and safely tell you your bird’s sex by performing a DNA blood test. This technique involves collecting a small blood sample. Often I can collect it at the same time as doing other wellness blood testing to minimize the stress to your bird. Please let us know if you have any questions about DNA blood sexing or other sexing procedures.