toe nails

[betty]

my b&g mac`s nails are getting long and she is starting to scrach her face & nostrils. should i trim them ( because she hates anyone else touching her :aiwebs_02 :eusa_naug ) or should i get my vet to do it.

[Franciscus]

I would suggest having an EXPERT trim the nails. It is normal for a bird to scratch it's face. Just yesterday I was told of someone who had cut a macaw's nails way too short resulting in trauma, bleeding, and sensitive nails for the bird for a while. Macaws naturally have fairly long nails. When the bird is standing on a flat surface the feet should be flat. If the nails are too long the tip of the toes do not touch the surface.

As far as the bird liking your husband is concerned there are several things you can do. When you take the bird in for toenail clipping, have your husband bring in the bird and you take him form the person grooming after it's done. That way the bird will think of you as rescuing him from the uncomfortable situation. Also, have your husband bring the bird to a neutral room, place him on a T-stand and leave the room. Then you go in immediately to interact with the bird. That way you are the only thing familiar in the room and the bird will be more cooperative with you. You should also be confident, don't pull your hand back and forth hesitating. ALWAYS use the "Up" command when picking him up, your husband should also. Your husband, or anyone, should avoid petting the bird on the body or beak, that type of petting increases hormone levels which could result in an increase in aggression and cause the bird to overbond with an individual. It is also not good for the bird's health to have elevated hormones at all times. Macaws are very social by nature and with proper training should be handlable with everyone in the family.

[BirdsUnlimited]

Petting a macaw on the beak increases hormone levels?

[The Outlaw]

Yup. Its birdie foreplay.

THE OUTLAW

[BirdsUnlimited]

Have you got an article or something about this?

[Franciscus]

I don't recall who specifically wrote about that but I think it was either Sally Blanchard or Liz Wilson. I have a stack of bird mags as tall as I am (6'6") and numerous books on behaviour. It made sense to me because when birds are courting they play with each other's beaks.

[BirdsUnlimited]

Liz or Sally, I don't take either as credible sources for scientific data, only an assumption it raises hormones. I've also got the same stack of books and magazines and have never seen it written. What I'd like to see is a study that shows raised hormone levels in a birds blood stream from beak rubbing. I raise a lot of birds and I understand the beak is very sensitive and has much to do with mutual preening, regurgitation, even just touching beaks, much like a kiss, but does the hormone level increase from rubbing a birds beak? Might be an interesting study.

PS How do you make a hormone? Don't pay her.

[Franciscus]

I think their research may be to behavioral based rather than through bloodwork but perhaps not. I think it would be safe to assume that when birds behave in a hormonal way, wanting to nest for long periods during the year, displaying, etc, that their hormones are elevated. People are sexual year round, parrots are not. I respect both and would rather err on the side of caution. My birds don't NEED to have their beaks rubbed and I don't NEED to rub them.