Overgrown Beak on Bronze Wing

My 14-year-old Bronze Wing has gotten a horribly overgrown beak in the last two years. I have read that Bronze Wings are prone to this problem, and that it can be due to diet. Has anyone had any experience with overgrown beaks on their pionus? I have tried adding more vitamin-A containing foods to his diet, to no avail. I have heard that having the beak trimmed by an experienced vet is best left to a last alternative, since the bird can die from the stress.

A lot of people get their bird's beaks trimmed. They don't like it, of course, but if it's long enough to be a problem it should probably be done. I've never heard of it being dangerous to the bird (just the groomer, Puck drew blood from the vet, lol).

I have Dusky Pionus, and haven't had beak problems in them, so not sure on species specific. However, I would take him to the vet for a beak trim and discuss diet and health causes for a beak overgrowing. It should go without saying, but make sure he has toys he likes to chew on.

As for beak trimming being stressful....

I have done lots (dozens) of different types of beak trimming and reforming in everything ranging from tiels and quakers to big macaws, and birds of all ages and health. It's not fun, but they don't die. Honestly beak trimming shouldn't need to be done, but it does happen (I do it a lot because we get a lot of rescues and birds on deaths door). It is scary to watch sometimes, and owners often look like they'll die from the stress of watching...lol (I use a pair of diagnol cutting pliers and a Dremel)

If you want to message a photo to me or post one here I could probably tell you what should be done and how soon.

Best of luck!

Thanks for the encouragement, guys. I will try to post a photo when I can get my husband to help me. Somehow I am flummoxed by computer technologies!

The state of this beak is very embarrassing to me, but I will post a picture. Merlin can still eat, and climb, but the beak is truly horrible. Yes, he does have things to chew on, and new toys from time to time. He has simply never been much of a chewer, though he has never had a beak problem until the growth over the last couple of years.


Margaret

I just put a photo of Merlin's head in the photo gallery. It is titled, "Merlin's Overgrown Beak," and is in the Pionus Section. If you compare him with the beautiful Bronzewing, Monet, you will see the extent of the problem.

Thanks for being willing totake a look and telling me what you think.

Margaret

Do you provide a concrete perch so he can trim his beak?

I took a look, I did answer your email. First, It's not the worst beak I've ever seen, but it is very bad. He'll need a professional or experience person to do that very carefully and possibly slowly because ther may be bleeding when cutting a beak that overgrown. The sides are long and the twisting indicates that the upper beak needs to be filed and made to fit against the bottom beak. This is a beak that may take several trims to get back into working order. Also the condition of the beak is flaky and will require a experienced hand not to cause some splitting. So please don't attempt this yourself. It looks like it also may be hyperkaratosis (and it that's the case he will require regular beak work for the rest of his life), but honestly it just looks like he was a little crooked to begin with and since the beak didn't meet properly it didn't wear the edges down as it should naturally... as the sides grew the beak got more offset and it caused that growth. I'd wager that he's probably a bit undeweight from the difficulty eating.... Please don't feel bad, we just need to find soeone local to you that can help correct the beak and get the poor guy comfy. I appreciate you asking for help and providing the photo... please disregard anyone that yells at you, most people don't encounter crooked beaks and don't realize how fast they can actually grow that long... note to others.... a beak can grow like that in a matter of 8 weeks depending on the intial cause, and is not always a sign of neglect.... now, let's get this fixed... go ahead and answer my email, and we'll work this out together

Best of luck to you getting Merlin's beak corrected.

Thanks, guys, for both your helpful and kind responses!

I will be checking around for local vets with beak-trimming experience, and we will see what we can do.

Really grateful to hear that I don't need to worry about Merlin dying of the stress of having his beak trimmed. Can you imagine---I read that in a book about Pionus! Ah well. At least now I can forge on ahead, and we can get this problem dealt with.

I will try and remember to send new pictures or updates. Thanks again, especially to Shredded Oaks, for all the helpful advice and words of encouragement.

Yay!! I'm excited for him to get his beak fixed . Do post pictures along the way! (Maybe one picture after each trimming?) It would be cool to see the transformation . Congrats and good luck!!

Where can I find these pictures??? I'm very slow... Couldn't even find where to post videos, when I joined...