Overgrown Beak

SkyandHoudini

New member
Jan 21, 2015
25
0
NY
Parrots
Just my Quaker, Sky!
Hello everybody! I need some help. Sky's beak started overgrowing about four or five months ago. Around this time he had flown and hit his beak against a door in my house and it had bruised. We assumed that the black spots appearing at the top of his beak were the results of the bruise. However, his beak just kept growing and now it has reached this point. Me and my sister are planning to take him to the vet after finals have passed, but in the meanwhile, I would like to know if anyone has any suggestions as to what could be wrong with him?

Just some extra information: his poop is fine, he's eating normally, and he's shown no actual signs of pain or discomfort when it comes to using his beak.

I forgot this tidbit of information on instagram: He has been sneezing quite a bit since it's gotten cold (so about a week ago). The snot is clear, but what's worrying me is it's more than once a day he's sneezing.

https://www.instagram.com/p/_UjnAKpdSg/

https://www.instagram.com/p/_UjvnyJdSs/

https://www.instagram.com/p/_UjsCPJdSk/

These are pictures of his overgrown beak.
 
Last edited:

plumsmum2005

New member
Nov 18, 2015
5,330
94
England, UK
Parrots
Lou, Ruby, and Sonu.
Fly free Plum, my gorgeous boy.
Hi probably the best advice is see an AV to get a professional opinion. Did you know that birds often don't show illness until it has progressed as it's a sign of weakness in the wild? Good to know his poop is fine, he's eating normally, and he's showing no actual signs of pain or discomfort when it comes to using his beak. I always use the "if in doubt go" rule of thumb when it comes to going to the vet with my bird now, but it can be difficult to know what to do - shall I? shan't I, will they think me daft? Who cares go! Good luck :)
 

MikeyTN

New member
Feb 1, 2011
13,296
17
Antioch, TN
Parrots
"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
Would like to ask if you off any concrete/sand perch within his cage? Those are pretty essential for them to use to trim their own beak down. If he don't use it then he really do need to have a vet to trim it for him but a health checkup would be a good thing right now too.
 

Peppo

New member
Nov 27, 2015
173
0
Parrots
Paco-Male Double Yellow Head Amazon
When I got Paco, he literally had two beaks! One growing right over the other with a big gap in between. The point was also overgrown on the lower one. I made an appointment with the vet but by the time they day to go came, he chewed on some yucca chips that I put on a scewer and had smoothed most of it. The vet did the rest but ever since, I by those yucca wood chips and he goes to town on them. It has really done the trick. I get them from Amazon.com.
 
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SkyandHoudini

New member
Jan 21, 2015
25
0
NY
Parrots
Just my Quaker, Sky!
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Sorry for the late replies everyone! We got very busy. So far Sky is doing the exact same, though I think a milestone is he's finally fully switched over to a full pellet diet. B/c there was no chance of us going to the vet the past few weeks, I actually filed some of the beak down myself. He was startled at first, but let me do it as he realized it wasn't going to hurt him. It actually looks A LOT BETTER right now. Umm do any of you know a good but not overly expensive vet in New York?

Hi probably the best advice is see an AV to get a professional opinion. Did you know that birds often don't show illness until it has progressed as it's a sign of weakness in the wild? Good to know his poop is fine, he's eating normally, and he's showing no actual signs of pain or discomfort when it comes to using his beak. I always use the "if in doubt go" rule of thumb when it comes to going to the vet with my bird now, but it can be difficult to know what to do - shall I? shan't I, will they think me daft? Who cares go! Good luck :)

I know! That's why I was worried :( Everything seems fine, but I'm still scared.

MikeyTN said:
Would like to ask if you off any concrete/sand perch within his cage? Those are pretty essential for them to use to trim their own beak down. If he don't use it then he really do need to have a vet to trim it for him but a health checkup would be a good thing right now too.

We don't have any concrete or sand perches. He's pretty much whittled away at the wood branch we have for him (not all of it, it's big, but he's got a favorite spot he likes and he's shaved it down). We're going to get Petco tomorrow to pick up some more toys and I was going to get him another wood perch, but if concrete/sand are better we'll pick one of those up instead.

Peppo said:
When I got Paco, he literally had two beaks! One growing right over the other with a big gap in between. The point was also overgrown on the lower one. I made an appointment with the vet but by the time they day to go came, he chewed on some yucca chips that I put on a scewer and had smoothed most of it. The vet did the rest but ever since, I by those yucca wood chips and he goes to town on them. It has really done the trick. I get them from Amazon.com.

Aww poor Paco! I'll look them up on Amazon.

I guess we have a variety of options to help him with his beak, but I still want to take him to the vet! The only thing is money is tight right now. There's a local vet, but I've taken him there once, and they don't specialize in birds. The guy said I could keep coming back, but it sounded more like they were looking for money as opposed to taking care of Sky....
 

VolcanoBakemeat

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Jan 30, 2016
16
0
with my bird
Parrots
BIG MIKE! He's a 10 year old green cheeked conure. Loves chewing shoelaces, stealing, long walks on the beach
this looks like what happened with my GCC a few years ago, although not that much came off. I filed it a little and even put a little burt's bees lipbalm on it to help soften it for when he would grind his beak on his posts and stuff (I'll stop you right now and say that I bought it specifically for him, I do NOT want to share my bacteria and get him sick!) If you want to file his beak yourself a little, make sure you use a file that doesn't have grit that can fall off and the bird can ingest, inhale, etc. Only file a little bit at a time, I imagine it doesn't feel good to have a grating sensation of your upper lip! If your little buddy is eating and drinking normally, I think you can relax a bit.
 

ZephyrFly

New member
Sep 21, 2014
686
0
UK
Parrots
Pazu - Green Cheek Conure - Hatch Date ~27 September 2014~
Metal file then? As the beak is park of the skull I would be guessed its a feel like going to the dentist for our birds.

Cement perches don't wittle down like wooden and calcium perches do. So you have one for life basically.
 

VolcanoBakemeat

New member
Jan 30, 2016
16
0
with my bird
Parrots
BIG MIKE! He's a 10 year old green cheeked conure. Loves chewing shoelaces, stealing, long walks on the beach
Metal file then? As the beak is park of the skull I would be guessed its a feel like going to the dentist for our birds.

Cement perches don't wittle down like wooden and calcium perches do. So you have one for life basically.

OH MAN it's probably JUST like going to the dentist! You might need to swaddle your bird in a towel to be able to hold him still.
I have a file that was made in a mold so it doesn't have anything that can flake off, like those cheap ones that they just glue sand to. I like it because it's flexible, metal can strip away too much of the beak without you even realizing it. I should also mention that you should only file the beak as a last resort. It can be stressful and uncomfortable, and there's no reason to give your bird daily beak maintenance, they do that themselves. But sometimes, they do need a little help from someone with opposable thumbs!
 

plumsmum2005

New member
Nov 18, 2015
5,330
94
England, UK
Parrots
Lou, Ruby, and Sonu.
Fly free Plum, my gorgeous boy.
Sorry for the late replies everyone! We got very busy. So far Sky is doing the exact same, though I think a milestone is he's finally fully switched over to a full pellet diet. B/c there was no chance of us going to the vet the past few weeks, I actually filed some of the beak down myself. He was startled at first, but let me do it as he realized it wasn't going to hurt him. It actually looks A LOT BETTER right now. Umm do any of you know a good but not overly expensive vet in New York?

Hi probably the best advice is see an AV to get a professional opinion. Did you know that birds often don't show illness until it has progressed as it's a sign of weakness in the wild? Good to know his poop is fine, he's eating normally, and he's showing no actual signs of pain or discomfort when it comes to using his beak. I always use the "if in doubt go" rule of thumb when it comes to going to the vet with my bird now, but it can be difficult to know what to do - shall I? shan't I, will they think me daft? Who cares go! Good luck :)

I know! That's why I was worried :( Everything seems fine, but I'm still scared.

MikeyTN said:
Would like to ask if you off any concrete/sand perch within his cage? Those are pretty essential for them to use to trim their own beak down. If he don't use it then he really do need to have a vet to trim it for him but a health checkup would be a good thing right now too.

We don't have any concrete or sand perches. He's pretty much whittled away at the wood branch we have for him (not all of it, it's big, but he's got a favorite spot he likes and he's shaved it down). We're going to get Petco tomorrow to pick up some more toys and I was going to get him another wood perch, but if concrete/sand are better we'll pick one of those up instead.

Peppo said:
When I got Paco, he literally had two beaks! One growing right over the other with a big gap in between. The point was also overgrown on the lower one. I made an appointment with the vet but by the time they day to go came, he chewed on some yucca chips that I put on a scewer and had smoothed most of it. The vet did the rest but ever since, I by those yucca wood chips and he goes to town on them. It has really done the trick. I get them from Amazon.com.

Aww poor Paco! I'll look them up on Amazon.

I guess we have a variety of options to help him with his beak, but I still want to take him to the vet! The only thing is money is tight right now. There's a local vet, but I've taken him there once, and they don't specialize in birds. The guy said I could keep coming back, but it sounded more like they were looking for money as opposed to taking care of Sky....


Thanks for the update. Vet - definitely wouldn't take Sky there! If you are paying good money then pay for a good one. Really good re the pellets well done. Concrete perch - I'm sure you will find something suitable on Amazon - I also have a small inexpensive concrete like block attached to the side of Plum's cage, he'll ignore it for ages then suddenly go hell for leather at it with his beak, obtained from general pet store for just pence really.
 

JerseyWendy

New member
Jul 20, 2012
20,995
24
OH MAN it's probably JUST like going to the dentist! You might need to swaddle your bird in a towel to be able to hold him still.
I have a file that was made in a mold so it doesn't have anything that can flake off, like those cheap ones that they just glue sand to. I like it because it's flexible, metal can strip away too much of the beak without you even realizing it. I should also mention that you should only file the beak as a last resort. It can be stressful and uncomfortable, and there's no reason to give your bird daily beak maintenance, they do that themselves. But sometimes, they do need a little help from someone with opposable thumbs!

A dremel is a much preferred tool to trimming/shaping beaks than files. :)
 

thebirdnerd

New member
Dec 28, 2010
140
0
Parrots
Whitefaced Pied Male Tiel- official greeter at the Rainbow Bridge, forever in our hearts,
Turquoise Mutation IRN,
Congo African Grey- please come home to us,
Blue mutation IRN
A dremel would definitely be the quickest way to get that beak shorter and smoother. The rechargeable ones work great, being fairly quiet and not overly powerful.
 

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