IS THERE ANY WAY TO FILE A COCKATIELS BEAK WITHOUT HURTING HIM?

Question

MY ADDOLESCENT COCKATIEL BITES EXTREMELY HARD AND GRINDS HIS BEAK WHILE CLAMPED ON, IS THERE A SAFE WAY TO FILE HIS BEAK?

Answer 1

you can go to the vet or use nail clippers. But whenever I try to get near my parrot with those she starts to freak out so I use a nail file because that way it wont hurt her.

Answer 2

I dont think it is a wise idea to file the birds beak on your own. If you do file its beak, it might affect the way that it eats, and damage the beak. As a result of this, it might not be able to eat and will starve.

Rather take it to an avian vet, or your local aviary and get it proffesionally filed down. Or get Cuddle bone for it. They love this, and its very healthy to them. As well as keeps their beaks nice and trim.

Also, cockatiels are known to bite quite hard, but dont give up hope. There is a way to tame him.

Go to:

http://www.cockatielcottage.net/

This is a very good site, and will give you some great advice on how to get them to stop biting!

Hope this helps you and good luck! =]

Answer 3

You can either let him chew on 'natural files' like wood, or you can buy things at the pet store or Wal-Mart specifically made to 'trim down' a sharp beak.

Hope this helps, I had a Cockatiel for 5 or so years, and he was always chewing on papers or wood to file his beak.

Answer 4

i know what you mean. i used to have a cockatiel and now i have a bird that bites even harder. take the bird to your local vet that does birds and ask to have the birds beak trimmed otherwise you might hurt the bird. DONT TRY IT YOURSELF. you'll give the bird a heart attack TRUST ME I KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

You can get it clipped at the vets office, but it's not cheap.

Many people actually use nail clippers to remove the very tip of the beak. If you clip too far down, it will hurt.

Make sure there's cuttlebone in the cage so that he has something to file on if he needs it.

My conure bites hard as well, I give him a lot of cuttlebone, even if he doesn't use it, and give him toys that he can chew on that would help file down his beak (calcium chews, lava rock perches, etc.)

Answer 6

Well, I guess I am not understanding your question.

Are you asking if the birds beak can be filed because it is overgrown and needs trimmed for the health of the bird?

Or are you asking if it is possible to file a Cockateil's beak down so far that it cannot hurt you if it bites you?

The answer to the first question is "Yes", you can file down a Cockateils beak that is overgrown and is giving it difficulty in eating. However, overgrown beaks are often a sign of a more serious condition. Therefore I would take the bird to an Avian Vet and have him determine if your bird has a serious condition. While there you can ask him to file the bird's beak, and ask to watch the procedure . Trying to do it yourself could injure your bird severely, and possibly even kill it if you injure him to the point of excess bleeding. Cockateils are very small creatures and have a very small amount of blood. The loss of even a small amount can sometimes kill them!

I use a diamond file on my 'teil's nails and ( if needed) beaks.

If you are asking about trimming so that the bird can't bite or cause pain, then the answer is a definite "No" !! The birds beak can only be cut back a very small amount before you encounter the soft tissue and blood vessels inside. You could blunt the bird's beak a small amount, but without injuring him you could not trim it so far down that he could not bite or draw blood! In addition, filing the beak would be similar to cutting or filing a fingernail- It prompts the nail to grow back much quicker!!

Try this- When he bites, instead of trying to pull the bitten hand away, forcefully push it back into his face! The objective it to tip him backwards so that he thinks he is losing his balance. He should let go immediately! This technique can often break a bird of biting alogether! In addition, when he bites, try not to yell or make a single sound! ( yeah, I know that's easy for me to say when I don't have a psychobird hanging from my mangled hand!) Sometimes a bird decides that making you yell is "Playing!" He keeps score by your yells! Therefore everytime you yell, you are *Rewarding him* !! Stay silent, and push back into his face! That should help!

Then I suggest you start a training program to teach him who is boss. The exercise "Step Up" is the best place to start!

I can also suggest a good Yahoo Group of bird owners. They have extensive training files, and are always eager to help. Just contact me if you are interested.

Good luck

Answer 7

You can try wrapping him in a towel and filing his beak gently with an emory board.  I did this with my nanday conure and it didnt hurt him. Thats what the vet did and recommended.

Answer 8

Go to a specialized bird store that will trim the beak.  Most birds do not need a beak trim if they are healthy and are provided with lots of natrual wood toys, mineral blocks, lava block (or alternate grinding stone) or even a cement perch or natural rough perches like grapevine or dragonwood.