How do I trim my bird's (budgie) beak?

Question

I feel bad for him. The nails too. What can I do to make my parakeet more comfortable?

Answer 1

The best thing to do is to take him to the vet.  Also it is good for him to have a cuttlefish bone to keep his beak healthy, as well as different sized perches to exercize his feet.

Answer 2

Take him to a professional to have it done. They will be the most experienced and qualified for the job, keeping the chance for injury and suffering at bay.

Answer 3

You shouldn't trim a beak yourself unless you've been shown how.  Inside the beak are nerves which are sensitive.  You could hurt your bird unless you know what you're doing.  Nails can also be trimmed too short and bleed.  Take your bird to an avian vet and ask him to trim and also to show you how.

To keep nails from getting too long, provide a variety of perching surfaces and of varying diameters.  (Please don't use sand paper covers.  These damage the bird's feet.)  But there are perches made of manzanita, cholla, grapevine, and other natural branches.  There are perches made of cotton rope and sisal.  You should also include one "grooming" perch made of either cement or embedded sand (one brand is "Sandy Perch" - this is not the same as sand paper covers though).  

To keep beaks in shape, provide a variety of toys made for chewing.  There are lots of on-line vendors who offer wonderful toys for all size birds.  Just Google "Parrot Toy" or "Bird Toy".  Chewing toys will help the bird wear down his beak naturally.

Good luck with your budgie.  Get him trimmed up by a vet and then you can work on keeping him trimmed up naturally :-)

Colette

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Parro...

Answer 4

Well for the beak get a mineral/cuttle bone treat, they have them at pet stores, they are hard and will naturally grind away the beak, however if it is hard for him to eat you need to take him to the vet at it is too serious for an owner to do ans will not straighten itself out, for the nails just clip them a little bit with toe nail clippers, but only the tips as you go too far and he will bleed, possibly to death. You can get a sand paper like perch that will help naturally file down his claws.