cockatiel biting nails

Question
We fond a cockatiel a few months ago and just recently it started to bite its nails.  He's bites them so far down that he gets to the vein and starts to bleed.  He's done this a few times now and we can't get him to stop.  Could this be a result of an illness or an irriation to the nail?  This is the first that we are dealing with cockatiels and don't really know much about them.

Answer
Hi, Katie.  Thanks for posting.

I don't know...I've never seen this in any parrots in 17+ years I've been raising them (or anyone I know who raises parrots).  You might ask one of the other experts on this site and see if they have any experience with this.  I've seen parrots chew on a nail if the nail has broken off, but never seen/known of a parrot to actually bite it's nails.

Sorry I can't help here.

Chrys