Toe nail biting

[Byron5@Tiscali.co.uk]

Hi, I own a male (2 1/2 year old) and a female (1 1/2 year old) Eclectus who have both been kept together for over 1 year.
In the past month, the female has started biting her toe nails.
Her nails are now razor sharp, and there are "nicks" along their length where she has chewed them.
I have tried clipping the sharp tips off, but she just re-chews them.
Both birds spend several hours per day out of the cage, and her nail chewing occurs both inside and outside the cage (even when she is perched on my shoulder).
They are fed with a mixture of seeds, soak, fresh vegetables, fruit, pasta, pulses, etc.
I found a video on Yootube of a small parrot biting it's nails in a similar way, but I can't find any advice on the possible causes or treatment.
I'm concerned that at some time soon, she will cause her nails to bleed.
Any suggestions?

[Lisa B]

not sure about ekkies, but its rather normal for greys to do this as well. I highly doubt she will make herself bleed tho, because she would have to bite thought some nerve endings to do so. IT would hurt her too much and she would stop.
Greys tend to do it when nervous.

[swanwillow]

I'd look into toe tapping from eclectus parrots. its a problem they have. Theres videos of ekkies that toe-tap on landofvos

maybe just another sign of it.

[Sashagirl]

I agree with Lisa B that's normally what Greys do.Are you constantly moving their cages to make them nervous?Do they have a perch that will help them to maintain their nails?Make sure they have plenty of toys and foraging toys so it will distract the one from doing it.If their cage/cages are located by a window something outside could be scaring them.I wish you well.

[Byron5@Tiscali.co.uk]

Hi, thanks for your feedback. Apologies for not getting back to you earlier, but I've been working away. (My wife and kids look after the parrots too!)
Both parrots share the same cage, and the toys are changed on a regular basis.
There is a big window in the room, but the cage is sited at the back of the room away from the window. There's a rough perch in the cage which they both use.
The female's nails are much shorter than the male's.
I'm relieved to hear that she shouldn't draw blood or do too much damage to her nails.
One other thing I've noticed which might be a factor is that she is practicing her "nesting" instincts, backing into tight corners, etc on the room floor, and gathering nesting materials. However, at 1 1/2 years of age, she's not ready for breeding yet.
David