How to file a beak?

[HuskerHens18]

My blind hen doesn't peck around anymore except at food, so her beak has overgrown to the point she's having problems eating.
How do I do that? Can I just take a nail filer and rub it back and forth on the tip of the beak? Or is there a specific way to help overgrown beaks? Any help is appreciated!

 

[Lazy Farmer]

How do you know she is blind?
Put her in a sandy run and she will trim it naturally. We have adopted caged birds in the past with over grown beaks. They dig for bugs and also drag their beaks left and right like a pocket knife on a wet stone. Even parrots in a cage need a beak stone to file upon.

 

[HuskerHens18]

How do you know she is blind?
Put her in a sandy run and she will trim it naturally. We have adopted caged birds in the past with over grown beaks. They dig for bugs and also drag their beaks left and right like a pocket knife on a wet stone. Even parrots in a cage need a beak stone to file upon.

She doesn't respond to movements, and has problems locating food and water, when I try to hand feed her half the time she misses my hand completely and can't find it, I'll have to put her head back in my hand. Then on top of it all her eyes are cloudy. I don't have sand and won't for about another month, anything else I can try until then?

 

[HuskerHens18]

How do you know she is blind?
Put her in a sandy run and she will trim it naturally. We have adopted caged birds in the past with over grown beaks. They dig for bugs and also drag their beaks left and right like a pocket knife on a wet stone. Even parrots in a cage need a beak stone to file upon.

Oh and the reason she became blind is unknown to us, she could see fine until a couple months ago

 

[MilesFluffybutt]

Usually you can trim it down with nail clippers for dogs or humans.

 

[HuskerHens18]

Usually you can trim it down with nail clippers for dogs or humans.

Okay, I'll probably have to do that. She's beginning to get thin.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Okay, I'll probably have to do that. She's beginning to get thin.

There's quite a few helpful videos on youtube but you may find this works for you.
Good luck.

 

[MilesFluffybutt]

That's a good video. Just remember to do a little bit at a time, angle the sides and watch out for the tongue.

 

[firerunner]

I am such a wimp when it comes to my birds. When Nugget needed his beak trim, I took him to the vets. Cost me 20 bucks and was done within secs. Less stress for me and Nugget lol

 

[HuskerHens18]

Thank you all!! I will get start on it ASAP! My poor girl isn't feeling well I think, that might be why she isn't scratching or pecking around. I will probably give her some nutri drench.