Bloody Bird

True confession. I've been falling behind in grooming so I wanted to trim the birds' nails today. C's nails in particular have been getting a bit too long and spindly... so I worry that he'll get them caught on something, get tangled and trip: ideas I don't much relish, seeing as he has enough physical complications to deal with.

So I did B's nails first. This is because he moves a lot faster than C, and I know I have less chance of getting him calmly if he gets too much of a glimpse of what's coming. Now, anyone who knows B knows that he hates being confined like the devil and gets extremely upset. So, after trying to hold him in a towel to get to his nails, I let him out and just sat him on my hand -- and for the first time EVER in our 20-plus-year-long relationship, he let me clip his nails while just sitting there on my hand. I was so proud of him; it was so much easier on both of us this way!

Cutting C's nails got a bit more complicated. He has the bad wing that gets in the way, and the lucky little front toe that crosses over the long one. I tried to trim his nails the way I did with B, but finally realized that he was getting too excited, verging on panic, and that I'd have to hold him in the towel to keep him still.

When I finally had him ready, I must have been rushing and made a terrible mistake... I clipped a bit too far on his lucky toenail, he squealed and twisted, and then I found some blood on my finger. I had cut too far to the quick. I got out the starch to stem any bleeding, but I feel horrible about it.

And now C's been huddling here on the perch all day with his back to me. He doesn't usually sit like that -- he usually likes to sit out front, facing out -- but he's right. I deserve it.

If you're reading this, sweetie, I'm sorry. Please forgive me.