There are so many things you need to know to take good care of your bird, but we’ll help you with some of the basics. Your veterinarian or pet store can give you some great advice too.

A veterinarian can trim your bird’s nails during regular checkups. Having your bird’s nails trimmed can prevent them from damaging the quick (the flesh on the upper part of a bird’s nail that contains blood vessels and nerve tissue).

If you decide to trim your bird’s nails yourself, you should do so with extreme caution, as the quick can bleed profusely if cut. Before trimming your bird’s nails, it is a good idea to have a clotting agent nearby in case of bleeding (most birds do not have adequate blood clotting abilities). Your local pet store will carry clotting agents or styptic powder for home nail trimming, in addition to carrying bird-specific nail trimmers.

In addition, avoid using sandpaper-covered perches. Though this may seem like a good way to keep your bird’s nails trimmed, it can actually lead to painful sores on your bird’s feet.