How To Stop Bird From Rubbing His Beak

[LauraC]

I am giving Fuji, my Moustache Parakeet, Opt Opmega drops as prescribed by my certified avain vet. He is taking 2 drops twice a day because of high BA reading.

After I give him the drops and throughout the day he rubs his beak on his perches and cage. When I give him the drops if I get any on his beak, I take a cloth and get the excess off. I am worried his constant rubbing will do damage to his beak.

Any suggestions to curb this behavior?

Thanks!

 

[LordTriggs]

that's a normal behavior. It's how they keep their beak trimmed and in shape, like filing nails. IT also serves to clean the beak

They'll stop long before it hurts them, the beak is pretty sensetive

 

[plumsmum2005]

I am wondering if it doesn't taste nice?

Do a test and put the drops in something; fruit juice for example and see if the reaction is still the same?

 

[Notdumasilook]

I am wondering if it doesn't taste nice?

Do a test and put the drops in something; fruit juice for example and see if the reaction is still the same?

Better yet... taste it yourself. I taste all the meds I give to my critters. I ran across one med that was citrus flavored... but it must have been acidic as heck cuz it seemed to "burn" the feathers of his cheek. I contacted a pharmacy and had some made without the flavoring and luckily, the problem went away. Point Im making is there could be something in the meds that's irritating to your birdie and maybe u can fix it.

 

[SailBoat]

that's a normal behavior. It's how they keep their beak trimmed and in shape, like filing nails. IT also serves to clean the beak

They'll stop long before it hurts them, the beak is pretty sensetive

Not totally true! Yes, I have seen such wording in different documents, but the medical sources will take it further warning that the Beak can be serious damaged away from the pain sensors when rubbing on sharp or course surfaces.

Water on your fingers can be used to clean and/or reduce the amount of medication that maybe on the Beak. Having enough water on your finger tips can also result in some water getting into their mouth and helping to rise the inside also.

Try providing the medication and following with water on the tips of your fingers to remove or reduce the amount of medication that may still be within and on the Beak.

Hope this helps!

 

[LauraC]

It is a fishy smell. I believe by the name of it, it is a fish type supplement. He hates it but the doctor says it may be something I have to do for his lifetime to try and keep the liver functioning well. We had an X-ray on Friday and THANKFULLY the liver was not enlarged but we still need to try and get to the bottom of his high BA reading and try to reverse that.

Also the price for a small bottle that will probably last one month was $34 USD. Are you guys saying that sometimes you buy your meds for the birds at a pharmacy for humans?

 

[plumsmum2005]

It is a fishy smell. I believe by the name of it, it is a fish type supplement. He hates it but the doctor says it may be something I have to do for his lifetime to try and keep the liver functioning well. We had an X-ray on Friday and THANKFULLY the liver was not enlarged but we still need to try and get to the bottom of his high BA reading and try to reverse that.

Also the price for a small bottle that will probably last one month was $34 USD. Are you guys saying that sometimes you buy your melds for the birds at a pharmacy for humans?

what medication has been prescribed?

 

[SailBoat]

It is a fishy smell. I believe by the name of it, it is a fish type supplement. He hates it but the doctor says it may be something I have to do for his lifetime to try and keep the liver functioning well. We had an X-ray on Friday and THANKFULLY the liver was not enlarged but we still need to try and get to the bottom of his high BA reading and try to reverse that.

Also the price for a small bottle that will probably last one month was $34 USD. Are you guys saying that sometimes you buy your melds for the birds at a pharmacy for humans?

what medication has been prescribed?

Great point!

Some medications are Human based and/or require compounding (mixing /making / changing its form) and will need to come from a Pharmacy that has the ability to compound the medication. That type of Pharmacy is not found on every corner. The ones that do, also have the ability to add flavoring when the medications' has a harsh flavor. If that is offered, its a good idea to have some idea of what flavor your Parrot favors. Our DYH Amazon loves 'Tooty Fruity!?!' We found that after months of trailing different favors. FYI: Some colors will stain their feathers, but its all water-based and commonly comes out as part of the next bath or two.

FYI: All Vets know of the Pharmacies in their area that provide this kind of service!

 

[Halo]

It is a fishy smell. I believe by the name of it, it is a fish type supplement. He hates it but the doctor says it may be something I have to do for his lifetime to try and keep the liver functioning well. We had an X-ray on Friday and THANKFULLY the liver was not enlarged but we still need to try and get to the bottom of his high BA reading and try to reverse that.

Also the price for a small bottle that will probably last one month was $34 USD. Are you guys saying that sometimes you buy your meds for the birds at a pharmacy for humans?

What symptoms did you see to then take him to the vet and have blood tests.

 

[LauraC]

Hi Halo,

Fuji never showed signs of any problems. He went for his annual exam and when they did the blood work the vet said the BA reading was high.

When I first got Fuji 4 years ago I went for his initial wellness exam and his reading was high then. The vet thought it might be due to some antibiotics the bird store put all the birds on when a bird that was boarding with them got a respiratory infection. We got the BA reading to go down but now it is creeping up again. I truly hope we can get it to,come down. I LOVE ❤️ my little guy so much.

 

[plumsmum2005]

If the Bile Acids are high what else is high, there should be other indicators? There could be the need for additional antibiotics.

The organ is struggling with its clearing capacity, ie a bit unwell.

Ensure you give a diet rich in Vit A and all the B's. Seeds and nuts probably will not help. Keep fat levels fed low.

Your could try some Aloe Detox?

 

[LauraC]

If the Bile Acids are high what else is high, there should be other indicators? There could be the need for additional antibiotics.

The organ is struggling with its clearing capacity, ie a bit unwell.

Ensure you give a diet rich in Vit A and all the B's. Seeds and nuts probably will not help. Keep fat levels fed low.

Your could try some Aloe Detox?

My certified avian vet did not see anything else that alarming on the blood panel. I do not feed Fuji and seeds or nuts. The vet even had me cut out high sugar items like apples and dried bananas.

I did mention the milk thistle and aloe dextox to the vet and for now he just wants to try the Opt Omega drops I am giving Fuji.

 

[LauraC]

So I am trying to use water on Fuji's beak after I give him the drops and he is still rubbing.

I realize this may take time but I have a new concern. When he is out on his wooden playpen he rubs on the sides of the playpen. I am noticing that those sides now look a bit jagged from his rubbing and biting them. I am worried he could injure himself or get a splinter. Do you guys think sanding the sides of the playpen with some sandpaper would help?

I just wish I could stop his rubbing of his beak. I plan to call or stop by the vets office on Friday to see if they have any suggestions.

 

[plumsmum2005]

So I am trying to use water on Fuji's beak after I give him the drops and he is still rubbing.

I realize this may take time but I have a new concern. When he is out on his wooden playpen he rubs on the sides of the playpen. I am noticing that those sides now look a bit jagged from his rubbing and biting them. I am worried he could injure himself or get a splinter. Do you guys think sanding the sides of the playpen with some sandpaper would help?

I just wish I could stop his rubbing of his beak. I plan to call or stop by the vets office on Friday to see if they have any suggestions.

Best idea!

Ask about the drops what are they and what are they supposed to do please?

Thought I remembered this from somewhere!

"An overgrown beak can be the result of health problems including trauma, developmental abnormalities, nutritional imbalances, polyomavirus-like infection (finches), or liver disease"

If he does indeed have this, one of the symptoms is fast growing beaks and nails. Does this make any sense?

Either ask the AV to do any necessary work on the beak and/or supply him with safe objects to rub on himself. The nail trim perches are ideal.

 

[SailBoat]

Beak rubbing can be related to a illness. The Parrot rubs to induce a trans like state to off-set dizziness or displace pain, etc...

If you are very comfortable that the water on the finger tips has flushed the medication from the exterior and that any water carrying into the interior is having a like effect, the rubbing maybe driven by another reason or it is become a habit.

FYI: Yes, you can sandpaper. Normally, rubbing will not cause the wood to split, that is more commonly cause by chewing.

 

[LauraC]

I remember Fuji doing the beak rubbing the last time I had to give him theses drops about a year ago. When I stopped the drops the rubbing eventually stopped.

Plumsmum2005- his beak does not look overgrown. Is there a test they do on the beak itself?

 

[plumsmum2005]

Laura I don't think so, my train of thought is that he is rubbing to try and keep his beak trim himself. Because of the poss liver problem which exacerbates the beak and nail growth. Obviously it is not the only one; outlet for some discomfort is another; or the poss nasty taste the last one?

Give him some safe perches to rub on, ie the nail trim ones (not too rough) for now.

This is interesting Turmeric: a powerful healing spice

 

[LordTriggs]

the question as to when you stopped last time, was it the end of the prescription or did you just stop it?

If the first then it's most likely linked to his condition, if you stopped it without the course being done then it could be that he doesn't like it. Try experimenting mixing it with some fruit juice to cover the taste. Irecently saw a video fo someone with a sun conure who hated his medicine and would fling it everywhere and fight it off just generally being an unpleasant experience. they then mixed it with some fresh juice in a spoon (pulling the juice in with the medicine to mix it thoroughly) and the sun would do anything for it (he made off with the spoon when he finished it trying to get every last drop)

Yes it's a bit of extra sugar but it may help you out and it would be better to have a little extra sugar and a happy parrot enjoying his medicine than one with perfect sugar intake not getting through his medicine

 

[LauraC]

the question as to when you stopped last time, was it the end of the prescription or did you just stop it?

If the first then it's most likely linked to his condition, if you stopped it without the course being done then it could be that he doesn't like it. Try experimenting mixing it with some fruit juice to cover the taste. Irecently saw a video fo someone with a sun conure who hated his medicine and would fling it everywhere and fight it off just generally being an unpleasant experience. they then mixed it with some fresh juice in a spoon (pulling the juice in with the medicine to mix it thoroughly) and the sun would do anything for it (he made off with the spoon when he finished it trying to get every last drop)

Yes it's a bit of extra sugar but it may help you out and it would be better to have a little extra sugar and a happy parrot enjoying his medicine than one with perfect sugar intake not getting through his medicine

I finished the prescription. I really think it is just the taste and the texture on his beak. I will ask the vet what he thinks and let you guys know.

 

[Notdumasilook]

methinks lots of that issue can be helped by changing his diet.?? Whats on his menu??
Meds sound like some omega6 from fish oil. NOTE... some vets love to sell 50 cents worth of meds for 35 bucks.. that do little. I learned this the hard way.