beak trimming?

[nancy jean]

Does anyone here trim their bird's beak (make it duller, by grinding the beak)? The reason I ask is because I want to know, can/should it be done. My vet says no, but she will scrape Petey's beak to remove the flaking to make him prettier, but won't grind it to make it less sharp (knife like), I don't want to remove the point, just dull the edges.

Petey does bite.

[Rue]

I wouldn't trim a beak either unless there's an underlying problem that causes irregular growth...and flakes are a part of beaks too...

My Amazon's beak seems fine, and I've had her long enough to get an idea of it's growth rate, etc. She does wipe it a lot on her SandyPerch and I think that helps, because other than munching on my t-shirts she's not much of a chewer (to help keep the beak trim) so I'm pretty sure the Sandyperch is of benefit...

[The Outlaw]

Barring an abnormality or illness such as liver disease, the trimming of bird's beaks is completely unnecessary. I don't even remove the flaking. If you provide wood to chew, sandy perches and cuttlebone, your healthy bird should never need a beak trim. Making the end duller is only for your convenience and really unfair to the bird that has to hull seeds, preen and climb around its cage. There are many nerve endings as well that can get injured with a tip trim.

[Casa Amazona]

No, I wouldn't even consider dulling the beak of any of my seven 'zons unless there were a medical reason for it. It would be very unfair to them to put them through anything that painful.

[Alika]

I agree... not unless it's necessary for their benefit.

Sam's beak is in constant need of reshaping because of her prior living conditions, and I do cope it moderately from time to time, trying to slowly get it back to where it should be. But this has nothing to do with how sharp her beak is... it has to do with the way it is shaped.

I don't think it is humane to 'dull' a bird's beak for the comfort of the owner.

[nancy jean]

The reason I've asked this question is because I truely wanted to know what to do. I've heard of other people grinding their bird's beak so they aren't as sharp and could do less damage to the owner. I also understand it is done to correct a problem with the beak.

I would love to be able to handle Petey, but right now that's an impossibility because his bites can be very bad, and he does a lot of damage to me if I let him. He will calmly "step up" on a walking cane, but that's as close (the length of my walking cane) as he wants me to get to him when I let him out of his cage.

I'm his third owner, and have had him for three years.

[Casa Amazona]

Nancy Jean, I completely understand your desire to get closer to Petey without bloodshed. I have seven 'zons and one of them simply cannot be handled except under very unique circumstances. It's been very disappointing and frustrating to me not to be able to cuddle him, as he's otherwise a wonderful little guy. Having said all of that, though, it still seems extremely cruel IMO to subject him to such a painful procedure so that I would be able to handle him.

At the end of the day everyone ends up making their own decisions about these things. My decision was that I have a responsibility to give this guy the best life I can, having brought him into my home, regardless of whether or not I ever get the satisfaction of being able to handle him safely. In my case I'm extremely blessed because I'm in a position to have other 'zons that I can and do handle -- some more safely than others.

This is not a lecture -- it's merely me expressing my opinions. Caring for these wonderful companions is always a compromise, as they truly are not domesticated. It seems to me that it would be unfair and cruel to add pain to all the other things they've had to endure for our pleasure.

[The Outlaw]

Nancy Jean:

I have this suggestion to offer. I don't remember what kind of bird you have, so this may or may not work. Please go to www.landofvos.com. Do a search there for the Intensive Love Method. It will, step by step, teach you how to towel your bird and then begin a gentle bonding process. I have used it on three birds and all have done splendidly with it. I have used it on my oldest male Dreamer when he has been on horomonal overload and a real handful. Its really better that you read it thoroughly than for me to do an abridged version here.

I can attest to its effectiveness in some situations. You have nothing to lose.I used it on a foundling amazon, a rehomed YC male amazon and my Severe when I first got him. I also used it on my Ekkie when I first had her. All of the birds did remarkably well and it literally changed their perception of me as being scarey to them. My birds also don't equate being toweled with negatives. In fact, its part of the cuddling process after showers or just for fun. A frightened bird isn't in the mood to learn anything. You have to move them beyond the fear. Good luck. Let me know once you read and understand the technique.

[Freedomoflight]

nancy- thanks for posting that. I have been trying to find a way to break through the shell with my zon, and I think this is the ticket. I am off to try it right now.

[Joanie Doss]

Originally Posted by nancy jean

Does anyone here trim their bird's beak (make it duller, by grinding the beak)? The reason I ask is because I want to know, can/should it be done. My vet says no, but she will scrape Petey's beak to remove the flaking to make him prettier, but won't grind it to make it less sharp (knife like), I don't want to remove the point, just dull the edges.

Petey does bite.

Long ago they used to trim the beak to reduce biting in a bird. It worked but the bird paid a price. Birds have a lot of nerve endings in the end of their beaks. It can be quite painful. I used to take my BFA Pepper to a groomer and when I brought him back he didn't want to bite or even nip. This was many years ago when I first got him. It was then that I realized they were clipping back his beak and it hurt him so much that it also kept him from eating as much. Thankfully he has always been a pretty chubby bird so it didn't affect him too much. There can be a lot of blood when you trim a beak too far back. My one Nape bit the end off of another of my Napes and you should have seen all the blood. Two vets were not sure if it would grow back again but it did.

Trimming the beak thus can cause two problems: (1) Not being able to eat anything hard for a couple of weeks and (2) There can be a lot of bleeding.
Most vets now will not trim the beaks. They will, however, smooth them to make them more attractive. This is done if the beak peels and looks rough or if plates build up on the sides of the beak.

Joanie Doss
The Amazing Amazons
http://www.parrothouse.com/bodylanguage.html