Beak overgrowth?

[Harley2013]

I just got a pair of gouldins last night. I have left them in the quiet for the day, and now getting a good look at them in the cage. It appears, Taz's beak is overgrown. The top part of his beak extends out beyond the bottom part into a fine tip. Is this overgrowth? Or are gouldins beaks in adults designed differently? If it is overgrowth, how can I fix this? Will he grind it down himself of something? I saw something I the pet store today, it was a natural beak trimmer. Kinda like a white up mace stone, to hang on the cage side. Would he use this? I just about had a heart attack when I trimmed Harley's nails for the first time, I can't imagine doing a beak! That would definetly require some know how in my eye. Help!

[Betrue2yurself]

Adult Gouldian beaks shouldn't look like that. I have a pair or RCCBs, and their beaks were overgrown as well when I got them from the pet store. I gave them natural wooden perches and eventually they trimmed it down themselves. It took close to 4 months for them to trim it down to normal. I know you can trim them, but only a little at a time. I'm pretty new to finches so maybe someone with more experience and knowledge will chime in. Best of luck!

[Harley2013]

I have natural wood perches the screw onto the side of the cage, but they are not rough by any means to trim. I may be able to find some branches outside and place in there. Will this hinder his eating ability? I feel terrible for him. I really didn't notice this until tonight, yesterday he was fluttering around, and it just wanted to let him relax once we got him home so I didn't really bother them too much after putting them in their cage. Today, they are much calmer and just hanging out, so it was easier to spot.

[Martie]

It's hard to tell from the photo, but it doesn't look too serious. You might try a little time with a cuttlebone - or one of the beak/nail trimming perches available on the market - and see if he doesn't correct it himself.

It really is not difficult to trim beaks. I use human nail clippers. You want to be careful not to trim too much as beaks can bleed, but if you just trim it to be even with the bottom beak, it will be fine.

Here are a couple of websites that should help:

http://www.mfgouldianfinches.com/Issues ... Claws.html

http://www.finchniche.com/features_nailandbeak.php

Good luck! Let us know what you decide and how you do.

[Harley2013]

What perch would be best for this? I was under the impression cement or sand paper were not good. What type of perch am I looking for?

[Martie]

I have almost no experience with these perches as I have only very rarely used concrete ones -and not in quite some time. Hopefully others will be able to help to recommend the latest and greatest. I understand the sandpaper ones can hurt their feet - and believe none of them should be used as the sole available perch.

[wildbird]

You could get a piece of lava rock and attach it to the side of the cage. Some pet stores sell them or even get a bag of lava landscape rock from Lowes. Wash off a piece of it and attach it to the cage with a plastic tie. Put it right next to the perch where he would be most likely to use it. I have used one short lightly sanded perch for this too. Not the sand paper cover. These are light weight very lightly sanded or you can get short smooth concrete ones. After the beak is trim, I take the sand perch out.

[debbie276]

This is not unusual and should correct itself in time from beak rubbing. A normal wood perch is fine and if you'd like you could add a cuttlebone (mine never used them) or lava rock. I would not use sandy perches, too hard on their feet.
Easy to trim also in one snip.
good luck

[Harley2013]

Should I decide to trim it, as long as I keep it even with bottom, I should be okay as to not causing bleeding correct?

[debbie276]

Correct

[LadyGMom]

I would for sure not use the sand perches. I learned a hard lesson from that mistake. I thought it would help with nail filing and one day I came home from work and see blood all over the wooden perches and sand perches. Those perches are not for finches and cut they're small feet all up.

[Harley2013]

I am nervous to trim beak myself. I have never attempted this, and do not want to stress out my newly acquired baby, but flip side do not want there to be a eating problem. Plus, I did watch a video on trimming, and I had a hard enough go at it with Harley for the first time nail trimming. That was an experience! Lol! He's a wiggle butt, and he's a canary. Lol! A tiny finch? Uh oh! And I would feel just terrible if he bled.

[Ginene]

Harley2013
Is there a local pet store that can trim your birds beak for you? I'm not sure if you would want to risk taking him out...just a thought. Otherwise, give him some time to use it and file it down. As long as he can eat and drink, he should be fine. I had a rccb with an overgrown beak that went away shortly after he was exposed to a cuttle bone, mineral mix and a pedi-perch.

[Harley2013]

I will give him some time. I haven't really seen him eat anything but the millet, and although I haven't seen it, I'm sure he has drank water by now. As they are in my bedroom, and I work during the day. I will keep an eye on it. Hopefully he fixes it. I did go to the pet store looking for a pedi- perch, they only have the sand ones there. Against my better judgement, I did buy the smallest diameter they had for the time being, and will find a better choice, in hopes he would file a little. I will keep an eye on that too, and as soon as I see it improved, out it comes.

[Harley2013]

I made it to the Canary Bird Farm at lunch for what I needed for Taz and Dingo. The owner who sold me Harley was there and asked me about the Goulds I happened acquire. I mentioned to her the overgrown beak. She suggested, I trim it. She said he " probably" will not trim it as much as needed, so I should trim. wish me luck on that. I am sure I will be fine. I will go slow and be very careful. So when I am able to trim Dingos nails, after his escape-a-pade today, I will also work on Taz.