Should I trim my show birds beak?

[EffietheSilkie]

Hi,
So I have been showing chickens for a long time but have never trimmed there beaks. It just never seemed nessacery and I didn't want to risk messing them up. But recently my favorite show birds beak seems to have gotten really long. I think I probably should trim it but I'm not sure of the best way to do it so that it won't look bad. I know to avoid the quick but other than that what do I do? Also I have a show coming up in about a month will it look normal at that point? And she also seems to have lost some weight over the last few months. I've noticed when I try to feed her a treat she drops it a few times before being able to pick it up. Also the same bird with the long beak has been shaking her head a lot, I'm not sure why. Could it be related to beak? It seems like every few seconds she shakes her head then tries to wipe her beak on the cage floor. I know she's trying to file down her beak when she wipes it but her cage floor is wire so it doesn't work. Basically should I trim her beak, if so how, and why is she shaking her head?
I attached a picture of her in case it helps sorry it's pretty blurry she kept moving.
Any help would be great!
Thanks in advance!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Use a dog nail trimmer to nip it back to just before the quick, than us a nail file to shape it back to a point. It can interfere with eating if it gets too long. I see it more in roosters and older birds.

 

[EffietheSilkie]

Thank you,
I will try it! But does anyone have an idea of why she may be shaking her head so much? By the way she is a little over 3 years old if that effects anything.
Thanks again!

 

[EffietheSilkie]

Also, do I just trim the top of the beak till it lines up with the bottom or do I trim the bottom to.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Generally just the top needs trimming. As far as head shaking have you checked her for mites, and given her a good going over?

 

[EffietheSilkie]

Ok will do and I looked her over everything seems fine, there doesn't appear to be a reason for her head shaking.
Thanks for all your help!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Could be bugs are flying around her head? Sometimes head shaking can indicate an ear problem too, though what to do about it I don't know. Hopefully it's just bugs flying around.

 

[EffietheSilkie]

There aren't really any bugs flying around but up take a closer look at her ears, thanks again!