Over Grown Beak?

PrettyBird · Post by **PrettyBird** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 10:31 am

I have Lucy my 4 yr old green singer. I was feeding the birds yesturday and I looked up at her and talked to her like I always do and she starts singing. Well when I looked up I noticed that her beak looks like it has overgrown a bit. The point at the end of the beak its long and sharp....is this possible in finches? and what can I do?

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 10:36 am

If you have a Pedi-Perch in the cage (positioned right beside a drinker) most finches will keep their nails and beaks trim on that. But once in a while you may need to trim their beak/nail IF they get overly long. A regular human nail clipper will take care of it but you must be very careful in how much you remove.

flrancho · Post by **flrancho** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 10:46 am

My Zebra finches have issues with beak overgrowth, one moreso than the other. If you don't have a cuttlebone, get one, as this may help wear down the beak as well.

If you need to do a beak trimming, you can use nail-clippers, or we often use cuticle scissors. You just have to be careful how much you trim off.

PrettyBird · Post by **PrettyBird** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 10:49 am

Thanks for the replies. Yes I have all those things (pedi perch, cuttlebone etc) I dont know why she has it and the other finches dont.
I guess I could catch her and trim her beak with nail clippers...IM nervous!

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 11:00 am

Post a pic - if it's not toooooo long you can let it go for a while yet.

ac12 · Post by **ac12** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 12:34 pm

I trim mine before they get too long. I understand that similar to trimming the claws, you cannot cut too much at one time. I usually wait till what I need to cut is about 2mm long.

PrettyBird · Post by **PrettyBird** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 12:51 pm

ac12 wrote:I trim mine before they get too long. I understand that similar to trimming the claws, you cannot cut too much at one time. I usually wait till what I need to cut is about 2mm long.

oh really? I think hers might be 1 mm. But Im not sure. Ill try and catch her today and take a picture of her while shes in my hand. Shes too flighty when in the cage to get a good photo of her.

ranchnanny · Post by **ranchnanny** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 2:15 pm

I had that problem with my Canary Hen and tried to trim it with little success so I put a concrete perch in the cage and that took care of it..... no more over grown beaks.

PrettyBird · Post by **PrettyBird** » Mon Nov 21, 2011 5:03 pm

I caught Lucy today and got the little nail clippers and clipped the end. It was alot easier than I thought! Gave her a little nail trim as well

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Mon Nov 21, 2011 5:35 pm

PrettyBird wrote:I caught Lucy today and got the little nail clippers and clipped the end. It was alot easier than I thought! Gave her a little nail trim as well

We knew you could do it!

ac12 · Post by **ac12** » Mon Nov 21, 2011 6:19 pm

Some use a tera cotta (red clay) flower pot plate.
I give my birds pellet & seeds in that plate.
The idea is when they eat, they will wear down the tip of their beaks.
It might be helping, but I still have to trim beaks.
Some are worse than others, and some don't need any trimming at all.

PrettyBird · Post by **PrettyBird** » Mon Nov 21, 2011 7:00 pm

Thanks L!

gary- oh really? I never heard of that, but that is a really good idea. I might try that

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