feet claws

[jackyboy]

I have one of my quail which has its claws bending upwards and this is getting caught in my wire floor. Will it grow back to normal if i clip them?

 

[TwoCrows]

Yes, you can trim them. However because they are so long, you will not be able to trim much off. The blood veins will be pretty close to the ends of the claw tip.

So, get yourself some corn starch and a pair of guillotine type dog nail trimmers. (they work best for not shattering the nail. You can also use regular nail clippers, but they can shatter the nail). If you don't have corn starch, you can use regular flour.

I suggest you have someone hold the bird as you do this, or towel the bird up with feet sticking out.

Only trim off about a 1/32 of the tip of the nail. They may still bleed. If they do, take a big pinch of corn starch and pack it right on the tip of the nail to stop the bleeding. Do that with the rest of the claws.

Trim the claws once a week like this until the desired length is achieved. The blood vein will move up the nail each week. If you cut off more than this, there could be too much pain and blood loss.

 

[jackyboy]

Thanks very much

 

[jackyboy]

Is it likely that the claws will grow back to normal?

 

[TwoCrows]

Claws and beaks continue to grow all throughout the life of the bird. Like finger nails, the claws will regrow again. The reason the claws on your birds are not wearing down is that they are on wire. Rough surfaces wear the nails down and they tend to curl when they get too long. In nature, quail scratch in the dirt looking for seeds and bugs. Keeps the claws short. You might want take a cereal box or something similar, cut one side off the box and lay it down. Fill it with dirt, and occasionally throw some seeds in the dirt so the quail will scratch around. Will help keep the nails shorter. Also will work for a dust bath area as well.

 

[oktx]

Besides the dust bath, you can put some small cement paving stones in for perches. (the 4"x 4" small squares)

 

[quailtrail]

Besides the dust bath, you can put some small cement paving stones in for perches.  (the 4"x 4" small squares)

great idea

 

[quailtrail]

Claws and beaks continue to grow all throughout the life of the bird. Like finger nails, the claws will regrow again. The reason the claws on your birds are not wearing down is that they are on wire. Rough surfaces wear the nails down and they tend to curl when they get too long. In nature, quail scratch in the dirt looking for seeds and bugs. Keeps the claws short. You might want take a cereal box or something similar, cut one side off the box and lay it down. Fill it with dirt, and occasionally throw some seeds in the dirt so the quail will scratch around. Will help keep the nails shorter. Also will work for a dust bath area as well.

I will add this too. I was surprised at how long they were at a day old.

 

[jackyboy]

Thank for all advice.