Chipped beak

tfw

Supporting Member
Nov 12, 2018
182
12
Parrots
B&G Macaw
Is it normal for them to get chipped beaks and do I have to do anything? I tried to get a goof pic, but he's a wiggleworm. he doesn't seem bothered at all by it.



 

bill_e

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Dec 24, 2015
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Nike a Hawk Head Parrot (Deroptyus accipitrinus)
Yes. totally normal, nothing to worry about.
 

Rival_of_the_Rickeybird

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2x Parrot of the Month 🏆
Jul 31, 2016
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None. My wife has one too many. Kidding!

SailBoat

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Jul 10, 2015
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Western, Michigan
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DYH Amazon
Yup, the deadly end of the upper bill chip!

It's not uncommon for mid to large Parrots to chip this area on any number of surfaces. The growth of the beak is from the body out to the tip just like our fingernails and as a result, the longer they get, the greater the likelihood of them chipping.
 
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tfw

tfw

Supporting Member
Nov 12, 2018
182
12
Parrots
B&G Macaw
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If you have questions in the future, there's nothing like an avian vet. My wife adores hers :)
In my opinion, any of the vets listed here should be better than a regular vet.
International contacts, too.

Oh we do have an awesome CAV. There are 2 in the practice, and one owns an African Gray :) . I didn't feel it was an emergency and didn't want to pay $165 for something that seemed like it was ok but just wanted a 2nd (or 3rd or 4th) opinion.
 

Cthebird

New member
Sep 19, 2017
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East coast of USA
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I now have a young Hahn's macaw. I used to have a Pacific Parrotlet that lived until almost 15. Before that I had a budgie.
I am obviously not an avian vet, but the chip shown looks like no big deal to me. I'd give it 2 to 3 days and it may not even be noticable.
 
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tfw

tfw

Supporting Member
Nov 12, 2018
182
12
Parrots
B&G Macaw
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Ok now his beak is just chipping away! I read it is normal?? But to this extent?

He gets pellets all day (recently switched to TOPs) and gets a mix of fresh fruits and veggies twice a day. In between he gets various nuts to crack open throughout the day (walnuts, almonds, pecans hazelnuts). He is active and friendly and for the most part your typical goof.

So does this bottom beak look ok? (Sorry my image doesn't want to embed for some reason)
https://flic.kr/p/2gjMPt2

2gjMPt2
 

bill_e

Supporting Member
Parrot of the Month 🏆
Dec 24, 2015
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429
New Hampshire
Parrots
Nike a Hawk Head Parrot (Deroptyus accipitrinus)
The wear on the upper beak still looks normal to me but I have not seen wear like that on the lower beak before....it seems extreme to me. BUT of course my birds have been small and I'm sure don't get the use that a large Macaw's beak gets.

If it we're me, based on my experience which not with large birds, I might take a trip to the CAV for an opinion.
 

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