Cockatoo Question: Broken Beak?

Sweetea · Nov 8, 2012

I am a potential Cockatoo owner. Recently, there was a Cockatoo rescued from an animal hoarder. I was first in line to offer it a new, safe, loving home. I am going to take her to the vet when I get her to make sure she's not sick: but she's not ready to be rehomed just yet. So, while I wait.. I have a question:

Her bottom beak is broken half off, she is eating and drinking fine. I went to the store where she was and brought her a grape, she ate it just fine. She did have some difficulty snapping into it because her bottom beak, where it is broken, is broken straight across.. so the sharp edge that is normally there is now flat.

With all that said..

I know the top of a birds beak grows back like a finger nail.
But.. Will the bottom beak ever grow back?

Thanks :red1:

MonicaMc · Nov 8, 2012

Honestly, it depends on where the damage is and how badly it is. If it's minor, it will grow back. May not grow back correctly, but it will grow back. If it's major (to top or bottom part of beak), then it's really hard to say one way or the other how it will grow back, if it does.

My mitred conure decided to bully a blind ruby macaw and got the short end of the stick while in his foster home. Needless to say, he lost half of his lower beak and it will never grow back! He's lived just fine with it the way it is for 6 years! The only downside is that he requires semi-frequent beak trimmings to keep it in shape since he can no longer do so himself. The beak also wears unevenly (do to 'scissor beak' caused by injury) so it's no longer identical on both sides.

Sweetea · Nov 8, 2012

It looks similar to your pictures, but the bottom beak still sits inside the top beak like a perfect fit (minus the curved tip the normally goes up into the top beak) I could hear her making grinding noises between the two pieces of her beak. I have no idea how she got that way.. but being neglecting by an animal hoarder.. who knows.

Thank you for the info it was very informative.

Thingamagigs · Nov 8, 2012

Are you sure its not just a normal beak? The lower beak isn't curved/pointed like the top. It usually does go straight across.

Sweetea · Nov 9, 2012

Wow I didn't know that?
I'm going to go visit her tomorrow so I'll get a closer look while I'm there.

MonicaMc · Nov 10, 2012

Most cockatoos lower beaks aren't flat but curved... so I was thinking that the tips were broken.

Simba_the_cockatoo · Dec 9, 2014

UGHH!!! I need help! Recenty my sulphur crested cockatoo fell ill and his appitite changed dramaticly. In this process he stopped consuming high amounts of calcium. No due to the lack of calcium his beak has started breaking in several places and his lower beak has gotten so thin i think iot may snap off completely!

My family and i are very scared and dont know what to do.... Could someone please give me some quality help?!?!
Cheers
-Dylan

labell · Dec 9, 2014

Simba_the_cockatoo said:
UGHH!!! I need help! Recenty my sulphur crested cockatoo fell ill and his appitite changed dramaticly. In this process he stopped consuming high amounts of calcium. No due to the lack of calcium his beak has started breaking in several places and his lower beak has gotten so thin i think iot may snap off completely!

My family and i are very scared and dont know what to do.... Could someone please give me some quality help?!?!
Cheers
-Dylan

You need to get him to an Avian Vet as soon as possible. No one here is a vet and what you describe sounds way too close to "beak and feather disease" a horrible disease for parrots that is very common in the wild cockatoos of your country. Please get your bird to a vet!

Terry57 · Dec 9, 2014

I agree with Laura, Please take him to an avian vet to find out what is going on with him. I am so sorry that you both are going through this

Allee · Dec 10, 2014

Dylan, I'm sorry your Too is sick. Those symptoms are very serious. I also suggest a thorough exam by an avian specialist. There is definitely something going on with Simba and it doesn't sound like it's anything that will resolve itself. I wish you well. Please keep us updated.

Cockatoo Question: Broken Beak?

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