It is very rare that a healthy well cared for bird would ever need a beak trim. However, I run a mobile bird grooming service, and so I frequently encounter birds that need beak work. Usually tiels or quakers with fatty liver disease, or improperly handfed birds whose beaks are slightly crooked and therefor do not wear down naturally. IF you ever encounter a bird that needs beak work, it should be done by a trained professional that understand beak growth, diseases, and how that particular species beak is suppose to appear naturally. THE BEST OPTION IS PREVENTION. Give them lots of toys and wood to chew and you shouldn't need a beak trim. If you do have a bird that needs a trim, you should take it to an experienced avian vet. Beak trimmings can cause way more damage than good at times. Find someone very knowledgable on parrots (and beaks inparticular) and have them take a look. For example... blue crown conures have a natural long point at the end of the upper beak, and some people think they need to be trimmed, when they do not. Macaws, toos, eclectus, tiels, quakers, etc... each beak has slight variations that need to be maintained naturally... I don't ever recomend trimming your own birds beak. I spent several years learning and practicing beak manipulation inbabies, beak trims in adults, and I worked at a vet clinic and learned from a talented Avian vet, along with a very skilled breeder, and there are still some beaks I won't touch.
