Aussie Finch Forum

My male long tail has an overgrown beak.
How do you trim beaks, and is it something you can do yourself, or is it better to go to an avian vet or such?
thanks
J

You can try clipping it with some nail clippers but sometimes they bleed.
It may be safer to file it with a nail file.
Any chance of posting a photo so that I can be more definite with my answer?

I've only ever had one bird who's bottom mandible kept growing to the extent that he couldn't pick up seed,a painted. Every few months i would catch him up and trim it to the same length as the top bill with a pair of nail clippers and file it to shape with a nail file,it worked for me and the bird with no hassles.Craig

We had to do 3 Jap quail not long ago ..very unsure of what we were doing but with google on hand attempted and succeeded .
Used dog nail clippers , the guillotine type as they were nice and sharp ..quick snip and all good ...They have a cement brick they like to rub the beaks on and all 3 went straight to it and finished of the job nicely .

No idea why 3 of 6 quail would have exceptionally long beaks all of a sudden .

Thanks guys
Myzo, there are a couple of pictures in my other topic (sick Long tails), first and last pics - ill try and get some others tomorrow.
I'll try a file tomorrow.

Im sure Ive read somewhere that sickness in birds can cause beak problems, which would explain the overgrown beaks you are experiencing with your sick longtails.
Maybe Myzo can confirm or shoot down the old wives tale!

I think you maybe thinking of beak and feather syndrom Di,but i don't know if it affects finches. Craig

Hi Jayburd,

I'm with Di in that your Longtail has an underlying issue causing the beak problem....stressful times such as breeding, but more so with moulting can bring these problems out. Myzomela is best placed to respond on the possible causes.

Personally I give my Goulds a suppliment (x 2 per week) in their drinking water to help with bones, feather, skin and beak conditions...the ones I use are Ioford and Dufoplus and have not had 1 instance of feather, beak or egg binding issues for several years.

Cheers
Paul

crocnshas wrote:I think you maybe thinking of beak and feather syndrom Di,but i don't know if it affects finches. Craig

No not feather and beak, more like how in humans the condition of the nails can indicate underlying problems.

Di & GP are correct,

Overgrown beaks in finches are often associated with chronic (ie long term) underlying illnesses which often involve the liver.
However, many things can affect the liver. I have seen it with birds suffering from polyomavirus, Macrorhabdus (megabacteria), mycobacteria (TB) and fungal toxin damage to the liver- to name just a few causes.

Although finches don't get beak and feather disease the same as parrots do (which is caused by the psittacine circovirus), we have recently discovered that both canaries and finches have their own circovirus which causes death in young birds, and can potentially lead to feathering problems.
Watch this space...

As for Jayburd's question, I agree with the suggestions to carefully cut the overgrown mandible with nail clippers & then file it to shape with a nail file or emery board. It may be useful to have a cake of soap handy in case the beak bleeds. (just poke the bleeding tip into the soap to "plug" the bleeder). Cornflour with some pressure applied may also help.

Of course, checking the bird out for any underlying illnesses would be ideal, but may not be practical.