Dull Beak

[Owlet]

So this has been something that stuck in the back of my mind for awhile now but I never really thought much of it. But it keeps nagging at me so it's time I ask.

Every single picture of an eclectus parrot I see, they have very sharp, pointed beaks. Even if they're a bit longer than they're suppose to be, even if they've been recently trimmed, they're always very pointed. Now Lincoln on the other hand, his beak has always been really dull and rounded. Now, this saves my fingers a lot of bleeding but I rather be bleeding and him be healthy. So, is a dull beak a sign of him missing something? It's still bright in color and what not. He has a sandpaper perch and he's always grinding his beak and rubbing it against stuff, but it's ALWAYS dull. Am I doing something wrong?

 

[Anansi]

Do you have a close up pic of his beak to show? Or a link to a thread that has one?

 

[Owlet]

https://imgur.com/a/xekS4

here's a couple shots I just took.

Been working with a bird groomer to shappen up his beak a little because due to my own fault it grew a bit. Still need to trim down the sides to give it some more shape but we've been doing it in parts since it stresses him out a lot.

https://imgur.com/gallery/l8EIJ

here are some older ones from when he chipped his lower beak, it doesn't look as bad in this one but still not that sharp point I always see.

 

[SailBoat]

A dull Beak can be an issue with the surfaces that they are rubbed against i.e., the differences between a sandpaper 'like' surface that dulls or a smooth surface that polishes.

If your Parrot is 'sanding' the upper Bill, you can remove the source or use a touch of corn oil to bring a short term shine to the Beak.

The level of glossiness or lack of, can be an underlining health issue and /or a diet issue.

Horizontal cracking of the lower mandible can be the result of bitting cage bars or the like, with the beak taking the worse of the interaction.

Scaling of both upper and lower segments is common with an active Parrot.

Put this on your list of question when you take you Parrot in to see the Avian Vet.

 

[Owlet]

In the time I've had him the glossiness of his beak hasn't changed at all despite going from a diet of corn, pizza crust, and rainbow zupreem to all fresh fruits/veggies/grains.

He rubs his beak against virtually everything. Primarily the metal parts of his cage though. He really doesn't touch the sandpaper perch much tbh but I don't know.

I'll see about getting him to the vet soon.

 

[SailBoat]

Yup, when our Amazon rubs on the bars (near the welds) it can dull them. But the little bugger has several natural wood perches that he will use to gloss-up and sharpen-up his blades. Almost like running a blade across a strap of leather.

 

[Owlet]

maybe I should get him some more natural wood perches, any advice where to buy some?

 

[SailBoat]

maybe I should get him some more natural wood perches, any advice where to buy some?

Out and about, will provide later tonight or in the morning.

 

[Anansi]

Wait. Steven and I are addressing 2 different types of dull, here, I believe. Steven seems to be addressing dull vs glossy, while I am addressing dull vs sharp. Which type were you actually asking about?

I looked at your pics. In the first set the shape of the beak definitely seems off to a concerning degree, though the second set of pics doesn't seem as off. So I don't know if the look of the first pic is just more of a bad angle thing, or if the better look in the second set is just a trick of a fortuitous angle. Can you provide more? Also, there seems to be an abrasion in the second set. Was that from an impact?

There are a few things that can cause beak growth issues. Diet is a big one. Liver problems can also do it. As can a congenital issue or disease. So yes, I think it's a good idea to take him in to see a CAV and get his blood values tested.

 

[Owlet]

I'm more speaking of dull vs sharp

I've had him tested for liver problems and what not to see if that's why his beak was growing so fast but everything came back clean. Everyone I've talked to about ekkies and their beaks just says they grow weirdly fast.

I can take more pictures in the morning as he's asleep right now and he's been very crabby today so rather not wake him.

As for the second pic, I can't exactly remember what happened or I never new exactly what happened but it's okay now.


If anyone has any advice at all to help me maintain his beak beyond diet (I think he's on a pretty good diet right now and can't see it being a problem) please tell me because I am at a loss and all I really have right now is taking him every few months or so to get it trimmed but that doesn't seem to be enough.

 

[davefv92c]

2yr old beak never trimmed yet
he seems to do it all by himself.

 

[chris-md]

If you feel the beak is growing a little TOO fast, try limiting his vitamin A intake. I believe that is a bit of a limiting factor in speed of growth, for obvious reasons.

I’m experimenting with this myself. Parker got nails done last month and I’m already contemplating another trip. I shouldn’t have to go too soon. So I’m backing off some of his key vitamin a sources. He used to get red palm oil with almost every dinner; I’ve backed off to maybe once a week. We’ll see how this works.

 

[Owlet]

I'll try that, thank you.

 

[Anansi]

Careful with limiting the Vitamin A, though. It's so important for ekkie health.

One thing to keep in mind is that ekkies tend to LOVE chewing on the softer woods. So if the chew toys you've provided have a lot of hard woods, you may want to try switching it up a bit. They go through the soft woods very quickly, but given enough to play with will help keep the growth under control.

Also, a cement perch here and there can help as well. Maya, for instance, loves sharpening her beak against her cement perches. And this keeps her beak in optimal condition.

 

[Owlet]

Lincoln won't touch hard wood or really wood at all. He isn't big on toys at all really unless it's paper or straws or this really really soft wood like thing I keep finding but don't actually know what it is at petstores. Or foraging toys.

Any suggestions for where I could buy good quality cement perches?

 

[Anansi]

Here is the twisty type of cement perch: https://www.mysafebirdstore.com/product.cgi?group=4948&product=11807

And the type with the smooth top for the more sensitive pads of their feet and the rough sides to keep the nails manicured: https://www.mysafebirdstore.com/product.cgi?group=4948&product=18639

I keep both types in Maya's cage and the twisty type in Jolly's. But both cages have more natural wood branch type perches than anything else.

 

[davefv92c]

those are the same perches i use for
both of my cages. just got 1 on the inside
of each door that they use everyday coming and going
from their cages

 

[Socalguy]

I trim Ziggys beak by clipping it with a nail clipper so it is not pointed but flat across. It does not seem to be an issue and our other eclectus never needs hers trimmed. They eat the same things so diet is not an issue. Some just seem to grow faster then others.