Broken beak tip.

Okay this is going to be a long story.

I (or rather my baby bird) just had the most horrifying experience today.
My fairly idiotic pearly conure decided to take the front door head on. Quite literally. At first i wasn't all that concerned since this was probably the 394th time this sort of thing happened. But when he stayed still on the floor, wings and tail feathers spread and didn't even react to the kitty coming up sniffing him (usually Buddy is the BOSS in this house), i got so scared my heart stopped. When i prodded him he didn't move, but he was breathing and blinking. So... At least hes not dead (yet).

I got a tea towel and slowly tried to pick him up. However, he suddenly possessed all the energy and strength in the world, heaven and hell combined, and completely panicked. He screeched so loud i was stunned and nearly tripped on the cat, and then he flew directly into his cage. There i caught him, bundled him up and held him to my chest while speaking calmly to him and stroking him. 5 minutes later he was calm, but still making these 'i'm distressed' chirps whenever i let him go.

I discovered my hands were a bit bloody and almost lost it then and there. Oh my effing god! My baby is bleeding! But where? The wings are obviously fine, so were the feet, nostrils, head and eyes. Suddenly i noticed something; HOLY CACTUS BUTT some of his beak is missing!!! The very tip of his beak had broken off and was still bleeding a bit. I don't have any of the stuff that stops bleeding, so i got a paper towel and held it to the tip till it finally stopped.

Afterwards he got loads of cuddles and kisses and a nap or two inside my shirt (his favorite place). I was still worried so i called my vet. She told my that since the bleeding had stopped there wasn't really anymore they could do (there are sadly no bird specialist in my area). I asked a bit about food and such, since it might be hard for Buddy to eat because of pain or something. But just as i told the vet this over the phone, i turned around and found the little bugger happily chewing on a green grape. A**hole. Now hours later he is back to his old energetic self, but is visibly quite annoyed with his beak and keeps scraping it on the perches and demands lots of beak rubbing from me.

Anyone else experienced this? And have some tips on aftercare?

Hugs and birdy kisses from me and Buddy.

I haven't experienced this, but I'd keep soft fruits available for a while. Also I read that birds beaks, especially bifurcated conure type beaks need calcium... break all the rules and allow milk, cheese sticks for a bit, cuttlebone. I don't buy into the lactose intolerant thing because my bird never had any distress, change in mood other than happy, or change in stool.

Calcium is what you want to get him right now.

it will build up his beak.

If his beak is broken cuttlebone might not be an available resource.


Now don't feed him just cheese and milk, but I would add it to his diet in the meantime.

ALSO FIND A REAL AVN google it, do a road trip!!!!!! AND HAVE HIM/HER TAKE A LOOK!

My jojo has a broken beak but it's her bottom beak. I took her last week to the Colorado state university vet hospital in ft Collins (it's a vet teaching school that has an exotics department) and they basically said it will never grow back together as the part that grows is damaged (probably from falling onto something in her cage is my guess) but it sounds like you are saying its his top beak? The tip? Can you provide picture? I'd say he will be annoyed with it till it grows back but I think it will grow back just fine. I have to soften jojos food and I suggest you do that same, either crushing pellets or giving soft veggies. Even babyfood mixed in will entice him to eat if he isn't getting enough. Find the natural babyfood, nothing with added ingredients like sugar or sodium. Sometimes I mix apple juice with her pellets but that's sugary I don't do it all the time, otherwise I use a little water. Just make sure the food gets changed more often cause the moisture will encourage mold and stuff. getting a prescription for metacam from a local vet will help with discomfort if you feel he needs it. I keep a bottle handy for jojo but it doesn't seem to bother her much. I notice she rubs her beak on stuff a lot more now though, it's like a broken fingernail on your face so I cannot imagine it feeling good. I agree with adding added calcium to his diet.

if the part that grows is damaged it may not mend but if it's just a side or a tip, it may all be fine. Also google an avn!

with a crash that can cause that amount of damage your worry is internal damage.

In short, doesn't matter how far you gotta go, get to a specialist avian vet. He needs Xrays and a full check-up

LordTriggs said:

with a crash that can cause that amount of damage your worry is internal damage.

In short, doesn't matter how far you gotta go, get to a specialist avian vet. He needs Xrays and a full check-up

Click to expand...

I would need to see pics really but they won't xray a beak fracture. there's nothing to see that they cant already see. If it's broke at the base where it grows they will examine but still, nothing to see with xrays unless you think there's issues other than his beak you are worried about. It's basically a large fingernail. They didn't xray jojo and her break is pretty extreme. All the way into two separate pieces.

Always good to see vet they are the experts but I don't think it's an emergency unless he is losing weight or bleeding (talking about the fracture). You should get a small gram scale and check weight regularily to gauge if hes eating enough.

I think I would be worried about neurological problems if this happens a lot. and maybe requires clipping to reduce risk of another smash and possibly death. I have lost a conure due to impacts and it's heartbreaking. If you see a vet, that's what I would be most concerned about. The part where you said he spread his wings and was motionless is a scary situation I'm glad he seems to be normal now.

As for stopping bleeding, cornstarch best, do not use styptic powder! Especially on the peak, you could’ve poisoned your baby!

YUMgrinder said:

LordTriggs said:

with a crash that can cause that amount of damage your worry is internal damage.

In short, doesn't matter how far you gotta go, get to a specialist avian vet. He needs Xrays and a full check-up

Click to expand...

I would need to see pics really but they won't xray a beak fracture. there's nothing to see that they cant already see. If it's broke at the base where it grows they will examine but still, nothing to see with xrays unless you think there's issues other than his beak you are worried about. It's basically a large fingernail. They didn't xray jojo and her break is pretty extreme. All the way into two separate pieces.

Always good to see vet they are the experts but I don't think it's an emergency unless he is losing weight or bleeding (talking about the fracture). You should get a small gram scale and check weight regularily to gauge if hes eating enough.

I think I would be worried about neurological problems if this happens a lot. and maybe requires clipping to reduce risk of another smash and possibly death. I have lost a conure due to impacts and it's heartbreaking. If you see a vet, that's what I would be most concerned about. The part where you said he spread his wings and was motionless is a scary situation I'm glad he seems to be normal now.

Click to expand...

I was more thinking around the skull/spine for the x-ray

and yes check his weight regularly right now, he may be less inclined to eat as his beak is almost certainly sore

Awww sorry to hear this. I'm no expert but the calcium thing would help I imagine and just keep his beak as clean as you can for a while. Everything will be alright my friend x

Oh even better, Orange juice fortified with vitamin D and calcium, give some daily and your birds beak will grow strong like bull!