trimmed beaks

[okmarge]

Help I was told I could trim my Americana's crossed beak. today I trimmed it for the second time and it started to bleed a lot. What should I do? I don't want her to go back with the rest of the chicks while she is bleeding. Oh my what did I do?

It was just a little trim.
Marge

 

[sourland]

Just like a dog's toenails, you can only trim a beak back to the quick. Frequent trimming may force the quick to recede. Get some styptic pencil to use the next time that you trim beaks. I would guess that all is OK by now.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

If you don't have the pencil or powder handy, flour works in a snap too.

You might also provide your little cross beak with a cinder block or rough rock and see if it'll file its beak on its own

Good luck!

 

[okmarge]

Thanks for your reply. I worry about my girls! I kept her away from the others until she stopped bleeding and then put her back on her roost. She is fine this morning and the others don't seem to be picking on her. She ate some blueberries!
Her beak is still not perfect but she is eating OK.
thanks again
Marge

 

[okmarge]

She does try to file her beak on the ground. I will do what you recommended. Thanks!