Can I trim a hen's beak?

[chickee babes]

I know this sounds a bit extreme, but i have the sweetest little hen who follows me everywhere, is as game as they come but has a deformed beak. She is young and I think it is actually impinging on eating as she grows. Her top beak has grown curled under and tp the left of the lower beak. I would never consider touching her beak if it were to hurt her. If it does impact feeding I may have to euthanise her, so I'm looking at all options first.
Advice welcome

 

[rosemarythyme]

Photos?

Assuming it's crossbeak it's safe to trim or file up to the tip/edge of the quick on both top and bottom beaks to help line up the edges better so she can eat, and to reduce chipping damage.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I had a hen that came with a longer top beak than I'm used to seeing. When I first got her, I put a brick in her quarantine cage and she was able to file it down herself.
I agree that the advice might be different depending on how it looks and pics would help.

 

[chickee babes]

HI Crazy Maisie, thank you for your advice.I must get a photo of this girl. Her beak is quite bad. Now saying that, I have watched a couple of videos so know what not to do, and will only clip the translucent/white part (tip) of her upper beak, but I'm not sure it will be enough. Once i've done that part, Ill see if it helps her to eat. I'll try to get you a photo before I try. Many thx

 

[chickee babes]

Photos?

Assuming it's crossbeak it's safe to trim or file up to the tip/edge of the quick on both top and bottom beaks to help line up the edges better so she can eat, and to reduce chipping damage.

Hi Rosemarythyme, thanks for your help. It is a little more promising than I originally thought. I will try to get a photo this afternoon.Many thanks

 

[chickee babes]

Photos?

Assuming it's crossbeak it's safe to trim or file up to the tip/edge of the quick on both top and bottom beaks to help line up the edges better so she can eat, and to reduce chipping damage.

 

[chickee babes]

This is my little hen. I have taken your advice and trimmed it using cat nail clipper, but there still is a bit of cross over, but I haven’t filed yet. Eating seems less of a hassle though, so she obviously needed a cutting back and the cross over is nowhere as extreme. Thank u for your help, cheers

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Since she's a cross beak, you want to make sure she has access to feed in a dish that is easy for her to access and maybe even make a mash. You will not be able to trim that to make it straight. But, many people have cross beaks that do just fine.

 

[mapel walnut]

i have a bird just like if you find anything out i would love the advice