Cuts under wings...

[Izzy]

I noticed a little bit ago that Mel had a cut under his left wing, on his crop. I thought maybe Misty pecked him, but it looks like a clean 'slice' about 1/8" long. The top membrane is cut and it was bleeding a little, but I see another layer of skin under there, where the food is.

I then noticed when I picked him up to look under the other that the nail of his longest toe was STUCK into his crop and was cutting his right side! It was in the exact same spot as the left side, so I'm sure it must of been his nails doing this.

Is this normal?? Misty doesn't have any cuts and it's making me wondering if Mel doesn't have some feet/leg issues going on. I hope it was ok to put neosporin ointment on these cuts, because I just did. Poor Mel, it's always something with him.

I went ahead and put his sponge thingie back on, not sure if that will make any difference or not, for the cuts, but is there a way I can "file" his nails or cut them? They are very sharp, like little needles! Misty's are like that too and they are starting to scratch me when they sit on me.

I read something about sandpaper on another thread, should I be adding this to their housing area?

Thank you for your help,
Izzy

[TAWhatley]

Hi Izzy,

You can either clip or file the nails down a bit. If clipping, be careful not to nick the vein in the nail. A piece of brick, paver, or pumice stone placed in their abode will help keep the nails in shape .. they like to stand and perch on flat surfaces like that. I think sandpaper might be too hard on their feet.

Terry

[Izzy]

Hi Terry, I'm used to clipping my dogs nails, so I'm aware of the quick or vein that can get cut, ick! Some of the nails are white, so it's easy to see where the vein is, but I'll have to guess with the black nails and just maybe cut the sharp ends off.

If I accidentally did cut the quick, will stypic (sp) powder work for them also? I have a container of it that I keep around in case this happens to my dogs. It basically stops the bleeding immediately.

Can I use just regular fingernail clippers? I have a heavy duty one for toe nails. The dog toe nail clippers are too big, I think.

Also, what is a paver? I know what a brick is and can get one of those in the meantime.

Thank you very much!
Izzy

[Keys & Eyegone]

I use cat nail clippers to clip my birds toe nails. [I didn't put any birks in they're avairy yet.] And if you do clip the quike the best thing to use is Baking Soda, thats what I use.
Hope Mel gets better soon.
Hilary Dawn

[cyro51]

Hi Izzy,

Poor Mel!!!! She is really testing you.

I read somewhere that stypic (sp) powder isn't suitable for birds. Direct pressure with a wad of cotton or gauze should do it. I haven't used baking soda but have used cornflower, the effect must be the same, they both are safe powders that would plug the wound. The same principle applies when you trim a beak and it bleeds (needless to say I have overtrimmed nails and beaks!

Cynthia

[Izzy]

Hi and thank you for the info.

I clipped the very tips of Mel's nails last night. I only wanted to take the sharp point off and did it without any injuries, thank goodness, lol! The tips are now blunt and I feel much better about that.

Mary showed me how to put little butterfly bandages on the cuts to pull them closed and then another larger bandage to cover the entire area.

Mel was actually out of his house this morning! That is the first time he has come out before I entered the room. Misty is usually waiting by the door, but not Mel, lol! I'm hoping he's feeling better or maybe he came out cause there was SO much poop in their house, ick, lol!

Anyhow, they ate a large breakfast and are snoozing again, I'll keep you posted.

Izzy

[TAWhatley]

Hi Izzy,

What I meant by paver was a concrete block used for garden walkways. A piece of cinderblock would work too.

Terry

[re lee]

A young this old would not usely need trimed. Not unless perhaps to high of protien has been fed. But feathers would be soft and fraid also .

[maryco]

Ree lee,

The protein thing is interesting, would eating too many peas (dry peas: White, green, maple..etc) cause to much protein buildup in the body and the pigeon's nails/beak growing too much?

My birds eat a lot of peas and just now I'm starting to put only little amount of food so they won't eat too many peas because the beaks and claws are growing too fast and I have to keep trimming (never had to do this in the past 2 years)

Just wondering

[Izzy]

Thanks Terry for the clarification on the paver, now I know what it is.

You know, I have no clue if Mel & Misty's claws are long for their age or not, as I have nothing to compare it too. I know that Misty has no cuts in her crop, so it's not a problem for her and I don't plan on trimming her nails, unless it's absolutely necessary.

I don't even know what the 'normal' length of their claws/nails are supposed to be. I really just wanted that very sharp tip off Mel's nails, it was like a needle!

I'm glad Mary brought up about the peas. Mel & Misty literally go insane when I feed them defrosted peas. They have been eating them daily now, for about a week, as an afternoon snack between breakfast and dinner. They normally eat about 20 peas a piece. I'm pretty sure they would keep eating them if I put more out, but didn't want to go overboard. Honestly, I think they would just eat peas and not seeds if I let them, lol!

They both have very soft feathers though. I think they still have down on their backs, unless those are just tiny, fluffy feathers, not sure.

Izzy

[maryco]

Hi Izzy,

At 28 days old you can even soak the dry peas for 5 hours for Mel and Misty, they might enjoy those too.
Once you soak them they aren't soft but "crispy" and the babies I raised LOVED those as a snack every afternoon

This will help their system get used to grinding peas and so when they are older they can eat them whole and dry in the pigeon mix.

[Izzy]

Hi Mary and thank you for telling me about dry peas. I'm not a pea fan myself, so I'm really clueless about them, lol! I do know when I defrost the frozen ones, they are extremely soft, kinda mushy at times, so having crispy ones sounds very interesting!

Ok, now, a stupid question time. Dried peas, hmm...where would I find those? Are they available in plastic bags in the grocery store? Is it something you find in the bulk section of a store? Are they green or white?

Any other info about peas are appreciated and thank you!

Izzy

[maryco]

Not a stupid question at all
I should have mentioned where they are avaible, anyway, so far I've seen them at a bulk store in the dry bean section.

White/green... try both!

Green is probably more nutritious though, but both are in the general pigeon mixes, some pics:

http://hompag.tripod.com/whitepeas.gif
http://www.pea-lentil.com/graphics/whgreenpeas.jpg

[Izzy]

Okies, thanks Mary, I'll be hunting down those peas in the next couple of days, can't wait for them to try them.