How to Trim the Beak on a Finch

Finches, as with any bird, can get an overgrown beak in situations. This is mostly preventable but also easily remedied with know-how. Overgrown beaks can be a sign of illness, overcrowding or lack of the proper additions to your finch's housing. For those reasons, it's best to see an avian veterinarian to ensure there are no biological factors influencing your bird's health. If it's merely a slight beak overgrowth and its cause is remedied, you can safely trim at home.

Things You'll Need

  • Large cloth
  • Nail clippers, cuticle scissors or nail file
  • Styptic powder
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Instructions

    • 1

      Catch your finch in the palm of your hand and gently remove it from the cage.

    • 2

      Wrap the bird, including its head, with its beak exposed. Covering the bird's eyes help keep the bird calm during trimming.

    • 3

      Hold the bird in your non-dominant hand, using your thumb to stabilize the finch's head.

    • 4

      Grasp the scissors or file in your dominant hand and carefully shave a very small piece off the tip of the beak. Think of "shaving off" some beak instead of cutting it. Take great care not to cut too far and cause bleeding. Shave off the smallest amount possible to control the overgrowth. If you cut too far, apply styptic powder to stop the bleeding.

    • 5

      Release your bird carefully back into its cage and monitor it for a few minutes to ensure it's not behaving abnormally.