Beak has "fangs". What is this??

[LadyGouldianGirl]

Hi guys! I have another newbie question. One of my Gouldians beak appears to be growing downward on the sides giving a fang-like appearance. After researching online I don't think this is an uncommon problem, right? But I'm terrified to trim it myself. I can handle the nails but the beak really makes me nervous. Is there something I can put in the cage that will help? He refuses the cuttlebone and when I put a sand perch in his feet began to bleed within hours so I quickly removed it. Suggestions for fixing up the beak?

Also, how can I prevent it from continuing to occur in the future? I'm assuming it must be from a nutritional deficiency from before I had him (I've had him 4 weeks). Currently I am supplementing with Hearty Bird vitamins in his water while waiting for him to decide to give my daily veggie offerings a try (very suborn little birds, aren't they? ). I am also sprinkling crushed egg shells over the seed mix hoping he is eating it but really not knowing for sure.

Thanks in advance for advice!

[debbie276]

It is best if the finch trims the beak himself on rough surfaces. Giving them a natural branch perches and a variety of different surfaces will help. They naturally swipe their beaks which most times takes care of over grown beaks.
Do not add any sand perches that make their feet bleed. That will open up the possibility of an infection.
There seems to be a genetic factor to this condition if it isn't simply a lazy gouldian that does not keep his beak trimmed.

good luck

[LadyGouldianGirl]

Thanks Debbie. I do see him rubbing his beak on his bottlebrush perch often. It's a tree that it grown in Florida and the bird store I go to converts them into perches to sell. I just noticed the fangs last night. I'll give him a few days. Maybe he will work them out himself. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't something more I could be doing.