Need new ideas for keeping beak trim!!

Jun 16, 2018
49
34
New Jersey
Parrots
Eclectus- "Junior" & Parrotlet- "Kittles"
Hi all! My eckie "Junior" wants nothing to do with chewing (unless he's stuffing his face with fruits and veggies, of course :rolleyes:).. how can I keep his beak trim? I felt so bad hearing him screaming at the AV office as they drimmeled it down a few months ago and it seems like he might be due for another session soon :27:I give him so many different toys to try, and I also have a rope perch, cement perch, and java perch in his cage. Honestly I feel like all the toys do is take up space. All he wants to do is hang out with me and eat-- toys do nothing for him. Anything in particular your eckie likes? Junior has a clean bill of health, no sign of liver disease; all blood work came back normal. So this just leads me to believe he simply isn't chewing enough to wear his beak down. Thanks in advance for any tips/things that work for you!
 

chris-md

Well-known member
Feb 6, 2010
4,349
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Maryland - USA
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Parker - male Eclectus

Aphrodite - red throated conure (RIP)
Hello!

Couple things. First, have you taught him how to shred? Get a piñata type shredding toy and add bits of nuts just in sight, but where he has to tear the toy a little in order to fully access it.

That’s a start

The second half of the equation is diet. Sounds like you have him on a great diet, but what exactly is he getting? Everyone extols the need for vitaminn a. But when they get a LOT of vitamin a it can speed up nail and beak growth. So if he is really on a very vitamin a rich diet, cut back the sources a bit. That should slow it down a bit.
 

GaleriaGila

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May 14, 2016
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The Rickeybird, 38-year-old Patagonian Conure
Concerning beak and nails...
Diet is critical, indeed. Shredding toys, too.
Another idea...
I really recommend getting those nail-trimming perches... they can address nail-trimming and really help with beaks, which were always so stressful for me and the Rb. He frequently sharpens/trims/files his beak on the rough surfaces.
It took a few years, but I eventually established a pattern/rotation that keeps him trimmed. I haven't had to do his nails or beak in 20-plus years. I keep a dowel as the main "highway" down the middle of the cage, but the special cement/trimmer/textured perches are all over.

A few brands... but there are many: Polly's Sand Walk... Pumice Perch... Trimmer Perch...
Be sure to introduce them gradually: they're abrasive to their tender feet at first. I LOVE them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These are smooth on top and abrasive underneath. Very easy to install/clean, oo.
Sweet Feet and Beaks Pedicure Perch xsmall for parrots, Feather Fantasy
May take a while to get the right combinations/locations, but was worth it for me and the Rb.
 
OP
Ekkyparrotlet125
Jun 16, 2018
49
34
New Jersey
Parrots
Eclectus- "Junior" & Parrotlet- "Kittles"
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Good idea. I have the shredding toys I think I might not be making them enticing enough for him though! I'll try and hide some treats! And I might just be giving him a few too many vitamin a rich veggies. He especially loves peas, carrots, butternut and acorn squash.. maybe I'll just start adding more rice/lentils/oatmeal into his diet to ensure he's not getting too much. I do have the beak and nail perch rough perch, but it doesn't seem to help much. It has to be the vitamin a issue. Thank you both for the suggestions! :D
 

Anansi

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Dec 18, 2013
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Maya (Female Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Jolly (Male Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Bixby (Male, red-sided eclectus. RIP), Suzie (Male cockatiel. RIP)
Another thing to keep in mind is that most ekkies prefer chewing on soft wood rather than hard. (Except for Maya who has bitten pieces off of manzanita and java wood. Lol!) So if the toys you provide tend to be of the harder wood variety, that might explain his lack of interest.
 

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