Filing the bird's beak can be as easy as using a nail file on your own fingernails. This depends on the tameness of your bird. Birds tend to dislike this procedure, so getting them to agree, without fighting, biting or throwing a fit can be difficult. Start with a sturdy nail file, and give your bird something to play with. Make sure you have toys on hand, because the bird will want to play with the file and might destroy it before you get the chance to do any real grooming. Keep a towel handy also so that if the file doesn't work, you can "towel" your bird to get better control
Things You'll Need
- Sturdy nail file
- Towel
- Pumice perch
- Bird toys
Instructions
Bird beaks are made of a type of bone with nerve endings, which, if damaged, can register pain. So being gentle is the most important factor in this procedure.
If your bird is a lovebird or cockatiel or of a similar size, placing the bird in one hand, upside down, gives you better access to the beak and also restrains the bird somewhat. Be gentle, as birds are very fragile. You need only file the tip, as the rest of the beak is quite sensitive.
After a few strokes you should be able to see that the tip is dulling. How many strokes depends on how long you can hold the bird and how sharp the beak is. It is better to do as little as possible at first and try another filing session later to avoid over stressing your bird.
When grooming a larger bird, place it on your knee, giving it something to play with. You can file the beak with a few quick strokes with a strong nail file. If the bird resists completely, then toweling is an option. This procedure will take two people.
Place a towel over your bird, and with one person holding the bird in both hands, on top of its wings, the bird should be sufficiently restrained to file its beak. Try not to restrain the bird for more than a couple of minutes as the practice is quite stressful.
A good suggestion is to use just a few strokes, until you see the beak beginning to lose its sharp edge. You don't want to file it down too much, or the bird will have trouble opening nuts and seeds.
Buy a perch that is made of pumice or sandpaper. This way the bird files its own beak, which is preferable to being bitten by a larger bird such as a macaw or cockatoo. Stores that sell bird products sell perches of this kind. The bird's natural grooming behavior is to rub its beak against the perch. Your bird can groom its beak, and you'll get a nail trim in as well.