2 questions regarding beak and seeds

[HenryC]

Hi!

I have noticed that the beak of my recently acquired lovebird is a little green/dark green around the edges and point. Is this normal? I uploaded some pics in the next link, sorry about the quality, had to use phone's zoom because the bird is still a little scared of me and won't let me get too close yet, even less with a foreign object such a huge phone. Also, is it too long? I provided a cuttlebone and mineral block but he doesn't seem to be using it, I got some chewable toys coming the mail though (pithy wood kebabs and some woven palm toys/strips).

I also wanted some help identyfing the seeds I feed him. Its a mix I bought in my local pet shop (Trying hard to make him eat pellets/veggies). Placed a sunflower seed for scale hehe:

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Thank you!

 

[GaleriaGila]

Hopefully, a lovebird owner/expeet will show up. I'm not very familiar with their beak issues...

But I do know that a healthy diet needs more than seeds alone... not sure if you do that or not...

Here's what I have done.

Harrison's Bird Foods
I feed Harrison's, supplemented by fresh healthy treats. My first, and later, my current avian vet recommended it. 30-ish years ago, Harrison's was still a small company. My vet was actually able to talk to Dr. Harrison about my bird's species and status, and they decided on the High Potency. My bird loves the pellets now, but to get him converted, my avian vet suggested putting pellets out all day, and putting seeds (his old diet) out for two 15-minute periods a day. That would sustain him but leave him hungry enough to try new stuff. I presume the same technique could be used to get him to eat other healthy stuff. My guy was eating pellets in a couple of days, and now I can feed a good variety of other stuff, knowing he has the pellets as a basic. Pellets are out all day... fresh treats a few times a day.

 

[HenryC]

Hi again Gila! We met in my introductory thread yesterday hehe. I am indeed doing that, I offer him pellets in the morning, and leave them there for abour 2-3 hours, then switch back to his usual pet store diet (don't want him to go starving) until he eats a good portion, then switch back. Got him about a week ago or so. Pet shop owner had him on sunflower seeds only.

I have offered the pellets in two forms: Blended in with a little water, carrots and parsley and then mixing it with seeds to see if he gets a little more interested (kinda like a homemade soft nutriberry) and the regular, dry way. No luck on any u_u. He loved fresh parsley though. I wonder if grinding the pellets into a fine powders in my nutri bullet, then mixing with seeds and water and baking them would be better.

 

[Raixalotto]

His/her beak looks quite normal to me. It looks a lot like 'Orange Juice', our neighbours Lovebird (with the exception of his beak being a different colour as he's a mutation). The colour appears to be pretty standard for a normal green mutation Lovebird.

However if you are worried, getting a professionals opinion is best (Avian Vet), and just in general, a vet check up is a good idea

 

[Scott]

Hi Enrique; I am unfamiliar with lovebirds, but the beak size and shape look good.

Besides the sunflower, not sure the remaining seed he eats. Might be a form of safflower, a seed they generally love. Might try grinding the pellets to smaller size, and mixing with a small amount of fruit juice. (something that is 100% juice with no added sweetener)

 

[HenryC]

Hi Enrique; I am unfamiliar with lovebirds, but the beak size and shape look good.

Besides the sunflower, not sure the remaining seed he eats. Might be a form of safflower, a seed they generally love. Might try grinding the pellets to smaller size, and mixing with a small amount of fruit juice. (something that is 100% juice with no added sweetener)

Thank you! haven't tried that, gonna go buy some organic apple juice.

 

[ParrotLover2001]

My lovebird is a hybrid, so her beak is a different color. Although the tip of my lovebirds beak seems to be black to me. So I think it might be normal.

Sent from my Galaxy s8

 

[Pilaf]

His beak looks normal to me. He really looks like my Pilaf, the peached faced lovebird I had for 18 years. He really does need to eat healthier food though. Harrison's pellets is what I always gave my lovebird. At first Pilaf was also only eating seeds, but he got sick and unhealthy when he was about 7 years old. Then I started to give him the pellets. I slowly mixed his seeds with pellets, and gradually less seeds and more pellets.