Nails turning dark

torrap

Member
Jun 10, 2013
494
4
CO, USA
Parrots
Marley-YSA (hen) -hatched 07/20/2006;
Simba-DYHA (hen)-hatched 06/23/2003
My DYHA's nails (2 of them) turned dark. Should I worry?
 

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Beeker

New member
Jan 22, 2018
9
0
My DYHA nails are dark. I have pics of him when he was 4 months old and a year later ....they have always been dark.
 

SailBoat

Supporting Member
Jul 10, 2015
17,646
10,008
Western, Michigan
Parrots
DYH Amazon
As Double Yellow-Headed Amazons (DYHA) age from youth to young adults their beaks and nails turn (grow-out) into a bone (semi-clear) color. Commonly at some place between 5 and 10 years this transition occurs. I have seen only one example of a 12 year old with a few spots on their nails.

'IF' the Amazon is an Adult and new growth is coming in dark, I would see this as an issue as that would imply that the body chemistry has changed or there is a physical issue causing this change. Please understand that this is commonly a slow process that would take far more than a year or two for an Adult's nail to fully grow a full replacement nail.

Very uncommon for there to be a rapid change in color. The only fringe possibility would be a wound in the toe at the nail, bleeding into the nail. But, I have not seen any writings that defined that injury.

IMHO: You have a young DYHA that will be transitioning to its Adult toe nail color over the next five years or so...
 

Beeker

New member
Jan 22, 2018
9
0
Interesting. My DYHA beak turned to a horn color at around 10 months old. His nails have always been dark but I suppose those will change with time. It is possible this is part of the growth process. New nails peel away to become a horn color just like the beak. I'd just call the vet. If the bird hasn't changed its behavior I suspect this is just a thing.

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bill_e

Supporting Member
Parrot of the Month 🏆
Dec 24, 2015
1,225
414
New Hampshire
Parrots
Nike a Hawk Head Parrot (Deroptyus accipitrinus)
Have you been using a full spectrum light? I noticed changes in my birds pigment color after using the light. I agree with the above though that it is likely age related....you should see all the age spots on my hands now ;)
 

Beeker

New member
Jan 22, 2018
9
0
Have you been using a full spectrum light? I noticed changes in my birds pigment color after using the light. I agree with the above though that it is likely age related....you should see all the age spots on my hands now ;)
Any recommendations on a full spectrum light. I don't want anything too bright or intrusive.

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SailBoat

Supporting Member
Jul 10, 2015
17,646
10,008
Western, Michigan
Parrots
DYH Amazon
Have you been using a full spectrum light? I noticed changes in my birds pigment color after using the light. I agree with the above though that it is likely age related....you should see all the age spots on my hands now ;)
Any recommendations on a full spectrum light. I don't want anything too bright or intrusive.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

Full Spectrum (daytime LED) Light bulbs come in a large cross-section of Wattages. Not as wide as traditional light bulbs, but an excellent representation that defines the majority of applications.

The light fixture defines the Maximum wattage of the light bulb to be used. Do not select a larger wattage then recommended! Over sizing the wattage is a fire hazard.

Look at size (wattage) current used and use that as your guide.
 

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