Are sharp beaks necessary?

I notice that my juvenile conure is always trying to sharpen her beak. I was going over the pros and cons of providing her one of those pumice stones in the cage. Frankly I can see mostly cons and very few pros. I thought making her happy is the biggest pro but I can see so many more potential problems.

I would like to hear other opinions.

Get a cuttlebone and mineral block in the cage is what needed. Plus provides calcium and help keep beak trimmed.

If they can't wear it down, it overgrows. What you perceive as "sharpening" is likely just filing (which is necessary for health and proper sinus function etc).

The Rb believes in sharp beaks. Or at least in his own.

A closely-related topic... nails...

Here are some ideas for you.

I really recommend getting those nail-trimming perches... they can eliminate nail-trimming, which was always so stressful for me and the Rb. It took a few years, but I eventually established a pattern/rotation that keeps him trimmed. I haven't had to do his nails in 20-plus years. I keep a dowel as the main "highway" down the middle of the cage, but the special cement/trimmer/textured perches are all over.
A few brands... but there are many: Polly's Sand Walk... Pumice Perch... Trimmer Perch...
Be sure to introduce them gradually: they're abrasive to their tender feet at first. I LOVE them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These are smooth on top and abrasive underneath. Very easy to install/clean, oo.
Sweet Feet and Beaks Pedicure Perch xsmall for parrots, Feather Fantasy
May take a while to get the right combinations/locations, but was worth it for me and the Rb.

I had already put in one of those nail trimming perches. I guess I am lucky not to have thought that it should be gradually introduced. On the first day I put it in the cage, it clearly has become her favorite perch. I hadn't thought about it being used for the beak too.

She also already had a cuttlebone block too. She used it a little but then I don't notice her going to it too often.

I forgot about the problem of overgrown beak. Thanks for the reminder.

Skittles has cuttlebones in each of his cages but he doesn't use them much. He has a cement perch thats part of one of his playstands and he uses that to file his beaks. Particularly with conures, since chewing is such a common trait, I think having well groomed beaks is very important. I don't think they are necessarily trying to 'sharpen' them, but rather are trying to groom them to keep them in proper shape. I've seen a lot of sunnies with 'flaking' beaks and my vet says that is normal (they chafe off), but by providing things like cement perches or cuttlebones, the flaking can be minimized. Skittles is very good at 'self-maintenance'. Its like he knows how cute he is and insists on keeping up his appearance. I try to keep his beak as free from flaking as I can. I don't like how it looks and I worry about bacteria growing in the crevaces since he also eats fresh fruit and veggies and sometimes I do give him baked or broiled chicken as well as hardboiled eggs.

You do want to be mindful of overgrown beaks. They can be deadly because they prevent the bird from getting enough food/water.

Sharp beaks are essential for every parrots and trimming unless medically advised, is a trust killing action.

wrench13 said:

Sharp beaks are essential for every parrots and trimming unless medically advised, is a trust killing action.

Click to expand...

Not to mention it can be a fid-killer too. I would NEVER trim Skitty's beak nor having anyone but a certified avian vet even attempt to. Skittles does get 'beak polishes' at his annual though this past visit they did a trim to 'narrow' the thickness of the curve of his upper beak (the pointy part, lol).


The only thing I am actually experienced enough to do is wing-clipping, ironically, since its something I'm rather opposed too. But, like Skittles, I like to rebel. lol