Too much beak

[Learning Finch]

I have a pair of red wing pytilia's and there beaks are getting way longer then any picture I have seen. Is there a way to trim there beaks?

[Learning Finch]

here is a picture of the male. his beak is worse...hers isn't far behind.

[Learning Finch]

Is this Legit?? beak Trimming

[wilkifam]

I would have a vet trim that.

[Ginene]

Me too...Are your birds siblings? I have read this can be hereditary.

[MiaCarter]

Ooh - that's one long beak.

I'd definitely have a vet show you how to do it if you've never done it before. Since you have two who need trimmings, the vet may do the first one so you can watch and then walk you through the second one.

My concern would be whether there's a secondary issue at play like some sort of parasitic issue or a nutritional deficiency, as there's a lot of flaking/peeling layers present. I didn't notice it as much on the small image, but when I clicked on the picture and saw the larger version, there appears to be quite a bit of peeling and flaking; a bit more than you normally see. (But again, this could be hereditary. If their beaks are growing at a faster than average rate, then I'd expect to see that natural renewal process of peeling/flaking occurring in a more pronounced manner, so it could very well be their version of normal.)

They are *very* squirmy for beak trimmings (for perspective, the gouldian in the video linked above is actually fairly well behaved) and it entails a lot of restraining of the head/neck. If you do it wrong, I think it could be very easy to break the neck or cut off the air supply.

To be honest, this is one thing I don't attempt at home. Most vets charge you $10-15 for trimmings. Nothing crazy. Usually the same as what they charge for dog nail trims.

As the others mentioned, I know this is hereditary and some species are much more prone than others.
I might invest in a beak conditioning stone. It's a little mineral stone, like a harder version of a cuttle bone. They eat it the same way and it keeps their beak filed. I've never given this to finches, only hookbills. But I know others who do. I'm not sure it would fix this extreme degree of overgrowth, but I know they're helpful in keeping it short and trimmed once you cut it back.

[saulosirds]

I have to trim my twinspots bills about every two months or so. Along with their toenails, their beaks seem to grow like weed. My fires get that way once in a while but they seem to have better luck getting them back in shape on their own.

I trim mine myself and have never had anyone show me how to do it. Get a small pair of clippers, cheap ones are .99 cents and work just fine. Take the bottom bill and clip it even with the front of the top bill. Make sure you have a good solid hold on your birds head so it doesn't wiggle will you are doing it.

Also, my birds are wild caught so I have no idea if they are related but they all (twinspots) have issues with overgrown bills.

If you don't have the best eye sight, like me, a good pair of cheap glasses helps you get a better look as to what is going on around the bill area.

Rob

[Ginene]

I use my finch nail trimming scissors to trim the tip of my Gouldian's beak. His beak was crossed at the tip, but after a few trimmings the problem seems to be gone. This bird has a long lower beak...if you are going to trim it yourself, go slowly. It has obviously adapted its eating habits to his current beak. If you trim it to quickly, it may have difficulty hulling seed. Just my humble opinion...

[wildbird]

Have a good avian vet trim it. Get a piece of lava rock with a hole in it & attach it to the side of the cage near the food. I put one on the floor where I feed them. I have a reptile dish on the floor with pebbles & rock chips in it along with a little seed for them to work through. Even some sandstone like rocks in the cage help nails & beaks to stay trim.

[Learning Finch]

thank you for all your help. I will have a vet look at it.

[dutch]

Learning Finch. .....are your birds indoors?

Lack of d3 can cause an over grown beak.....ask the vet