Minor cross-beak--file or clip?

[MotherClukr]

Hello!

This is our first time having a hen with a minor cross-beak. Sorry I couldn't get a better photo. Coconut is a Delaware and is about 4.5 months old. She doesn't have any issues eating, and in fact has been very adaptable, even snatching food from the older hens and running away with it.

Of course we are concerned over the continued growth and future issues. What is the best course of action to keep the top and bottom of her beak in check? File? Clip with dog nail clippers? Take her to the vet?

Thanks in advance

 

[Shadrach]

If she's eating and drinking fine and can also groom herself properly; very important to check for this with any beak deformities, I would file a bit on a daily basis.
Beak clipping is a last resort in my opinion and should be left to vets.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I would trim it down with a pair of sharp nail clippers (not dog or cat nail clippers). Then file the rest down where it should be (stop before hitting the quick!).

Here's where you should get her beak down to:

Trim below the line and file to the line to ensure it's smooth and even all around. (The clear area is the only place it should be trimmed/filed, just like the white on a finger nail.) Wrap her in a towel first, so she doesn't move while you are doing this.
I've done beak trimming plenty of times, and it's fairly easy compared to actually doing their nails. Just ensure she's not going to be moving while you're trimming is the most important thing. (Have someone hold her while you trim is best.) I typically hold a finger between the beak and ensure the tongue is nowhere near the clippers. (Top beak is easier on that, but a stressed bird may put their tongue on top.)

How fast is her beak growing? Her beak doesn't look like it's badly crossed. For my crossbeak, I was trimming her beak down every 2-4 weeks. Because your girl doesn't look that bad, going longer than that may be fine. Can you put a rock, brick or cement block near her feeding area? Providing something like that would help her file it down herself by her cleaning her beak off on it. Pellet grain also provides more 'chewing' time for her, which will also help grind her beak down. (Feeding my bantams too soft of a grain caused them to always need their beaks trimmed.)

 

[MotherClukr]

I would trim it down with a pair of sharp nail clippers (not dog or cat nail clippers). Then file the rest down where it should be (stop before hitting the quick!).

Here's where you should get her beak down to:

View attachment 3885760

Trim below the line and file to the line to ensure it's smooth and even all around. (The clear area is the only place it should be trimmed/filed, just like the white on a finger nail.) Wrap her in a towel first, so she doesn't move while you are doing this.
I've done beak trimming plenty of times, and it's fairly easy compared to actually doing their nails. Just ensure she's not going to be moving while you're trimming is the most important thing. (Have someone hold her while you trim is best.) I typically hold a finger between the beak and ensure the tongue is nowhere near the clippers. (Top beak is easier on that, but a stressed bird may put their tongue on top.)

How fast is her beak growing? Her beak doesn't look like it's badly crossed. For my crossbeak, I was trimming her beak down every 2-4 weeks. Because your girl doesn't look that bad, going longer than that may be fine. Can you put a rock, brick or cement block near her feeding area? Providing something like that would help her file it down herself by her cleaning her beak off on it. Pellet grain also provides more 'chewing' time for her, which will also help grind her beak down. (Feeding my bantams too soft of a grain caused them to always need their beaks trimmed.)

Thank you! She does have access to pellets and plenty of rock/concrete to rub her beak against. It is a minor cross-beak, and it only became noticeable a couple months ago. I appreciate you outlining the safe area of her beak for me!

 

[Shadrach]

Thank you! She does have access to pellets and plenty of rock/concrete to rub her beak against. It is a minor cross-beak, and it only became noticeable a couple months ago. I appreciate you outlining the safe area of her beak for me!

Hopefully reading this,
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1166494/

and this,
https://www.cambridge.org/core/jour...r-welfarediv/8FC9E87C0602D759055AC2003DB0EC0A

will make you think again about clipping the beak.

 

[MotherClukr]

Hopefully reading this,
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1166494/

and this,
https://www.cambridge.org/core/jour...r-welfarediv/8FC9E87C0602D759055AC2003DB0EC0A

will make you think again about clipping the beak.

Thank you, I will consider this. I'll likely be calling out avian vet for a professional opinion. I certainly don't want to hurt her.