Beak Trimming Extreme Sharp! Help?

[bgriffin70]

I realize that, normally, one would not want to trim their beaks but this issue has become PAINFULLY too real and I'm seeking advice...

My lori's beak has become NEEDLE SHARP and her love bites are now breaking the skin and causing bleeding (on me!) It is terribly painful and I try to teach her not to nip or bite, but even though it's not an aggressive bite; she does indeed just like to nip and me and when she does; OUCH !!!

Anything recommended to keep the beak trimmed down and yes, the vet does offer a beak trim with other grooming.

It has become that bad; seriously. And it's difficult to not get angry and just put her back in her cage. The constant nipping and biting with that needle-like beak is impossible to take and has literally scarred my face and hands !!!

Help please?

 

[Chelle]

I took my Prissy to the vet for the same reason. The vet will file it down with a dremel. I would not advise trying this yourself without knowing what you are doing. Good Luck!

 

[bgriffin70]

Definitely would never do it myself... not even her nails at this point. We will have her groomed by the vet to include nails filed, beak filed and wings clipped (it's time.)

The beak is the main issue here... she doesn't bit aggressively but it's the constant 'nibbling' like that just literally PIERCES my skin to cause bleeding. There are literally scars all over my neck that I didn't realize were so bad until shaving in the mirror a couple of days ago. Needless to say; I'm not allowing her on my shoulder anymore... not until that needle beak is filed down!

 

[MonicaMc]

How have you been trying to train her not to bite and nip?

 

[MikeyTN]

How old is your Lory??? Do you know the sex?

 

[bgriffin70]

Don't know the sex; only 9 months old and not doing any "training" to teach her not to bite. I'll say "no" in a calm voice as best I can; but after multiple bites and when the piercing and bleeding becomes honestly painful; I can't do anything else other than take a break and put her back in her cage. I don't want to allow that to continue and me wind up yelling; I know that doesn't help and could only make things worse. And I know the cage discipline isn't truly acceptable either, but there just comes a point where I can't get her to stop nipping at me and the scars are becoming quite severe.

I had a person at work just the other day state that it looked like I had the measles with all the splotches and scars on my neck !!!

I don't really know how to train her NOT to bite.............

 

[Birdman666]

Beak trim: Just take a nail file, and round off the point. This gets done 1-2 times a year or so.

Biting: Is this bird flighted or trimmed? The answer should be trimmed if the bird is biting. Two fingers on the beak prevents the bird from latching on. Then get the bird used to being touched.

 

[MonicaMc]

This may be easier said than done at first... but the best way to train a parrot not to bite is to not get bitten in the first place. The only bite that can't be rewarded is the one that never occurs. This means that you need to learn how to read and understand your birds body language and don't put your bird in a situation that will result in a bite.

Target training, when done correctly, is a great hands off training technique! Essentially, you teach the bird to reach for or touch a target item for a reward. There are different ways you can give the reward without getting bit - from having the bird reach for the reward but being far enough away that the bird can't bite, to dropping the reward into a cup, or even using a spoon to give the reward. In fact, if you target train a bird while in the cage, you can further reduce chances of being bitten because there will be bars between you and your bird. The only reason you'd get bit in this case is if your hands were too close to the cage, allowing the bird to bite through the cage bars.


Once a bird learns to target, you can teach them to target to different locations in and on their cage, around their cage, within their environment, teach them to turn around and even to step up - without biting.



If you use positive reinforcement training, there is no reason to clip the bird or force them to do anything. Force free beak filing? Force free nail trimming? Force free medicating? There's a lot of cool things you can accomplish with the use of positive reinforcement training!

 

[watson70]

I took my Prissy to the vet for the same reason. The vet will file it down with a dremel. I would not advise trying this yourself without knowing what you are doing. Good Luck!:red:

 

[4dugnlee]

Do you by chance have a pedi perch of any kind for her? They make several different kinds, including calcium perches, which will help with the nails and somewhat the beak (and they can eat the calcium ones...although none of mine eat theirs??). If you can get close enough/touch her, I would try the nail file. Otherwise I would go t the vet to have it done. Good luck!

Two fingers on the beak prevents the bird from latching on.

I've seen this in several threads...forgive me (I'm blonde) but I don't understand?? Two fingers where on the beak? Again, forgive me...lol:32:

 

[Birdman666]

I took my Prissy to the vet for the same reason. The vet will file it down with a dremel. I would not advise trying this yourself without knowing what you are doing. Good Luck!

Exactly. There is blood supply to the beak, just as there is blood supply to the nails.