Is my conure ok??

[fijii]

I have a yellow sided green cheek i was told hes about 2 years old but im not positive of that. Today when i picked him up i realized he has brownish redish crusty stuff on his beak.. Kind of similiar to dried BBQ sauce. The only food he has had in his cage is kiwi and seeds, what could this be? I don't have an avian vet in my town

 

[Printer bird]

Do you have a picture for people to see? Can you see an abrasion/bruise/cut? They definitely get dirty beaks when eating but there could be an injury.

 

[jenphilly]

Question for the easy stuff... have you fed any berries, beets or fruit/veggie that has any reddish color at all? Birds love beets, but it looks like a crime scene by the time they are done...

Then thoughts / questions more worrisome...

Regurge and blood could give that look. Check the paper on the bottom of her cage closely and wipe down the grate with a light colored rag, look closely for any other indication of blood or that reddish colored discharge.

Don't panic, but also look at toys, make sure there is no indication that an injury to the tongue or inside of mouth could have occurred. We had something similar happen at the shelter and of course rushed the bird in to the vet, had full bloodwork and everything done only to come to the conclusion tearing apart the cage that the injury was likely related to shredding wood and much like people poke themselves with a straw or toothpick, she stuck herself with a piece of wood shred.

But agree with Printer Bird... pics of what food is in the cage and offered daily. Hot peppers in the mix? Do you feed zupreem or pretty bird colored pellets?

 

[fijii]

Any idea what that could be? i dont see any cuts or anything

 

[fijii]

Posted pic, no he literally has had nothing but kiwi and just regular conure seed today. He has a cuttle bone, perches, a rope toy, a swing and some bells in his cage. I dont see any blood anywhere in the cage.

 

[fijii]

Did everybody see the picture?

 

[GaleriaGila]

I'm seeing what you're talking about, but I might not have noticed without your description. Beaks can be a little funky if a bird doesn't have good places to rub and sand and sharpen it.
What do the rest of you think?
I'd also like to try to talk you into pellets as a basic staple, augmented by fresh stuff...


P.S. Cuuuuuuuuuuuute face!

 

[Notdumasilook]

Indeed.. limiting the diet to kiwi fruit and seeds...?? I cant make out much from the picture but keep an eye on the bird... and his poop for any undigested food that passes thru and/or any more puking if u suspect it. Also every bird owner should have a set of scales to monitor weight. Weight loss, puking, and/or undigested food in poop can indicate a VERY serious disease. Don't panic but keep a close eye on your youngin.

 

[wrench13]

I would hold him, wash that crud off with plain warm , not hot, water only ( he may not like this), and see if it comes back. Odd that its not on the front of his beak , just the middle.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Agreeing with Mr. Wrench.

Also, my ideas about pellets. My first and current avian vets recommended Harrison's, and my bird has been eating them for 25+ years, supplemented by fresh produce and healthy seeds/nuts. When I initially converted him, my vet advised putting the pellets out all day, and then giving him the seed-mix (his current diet) for two 20-minute periods a day. That kept him hungry, but sustained. He was eating pellets with the week.

 

[Teddscau]

You and your Harrison's . I personally like Goldenfeast Goldn'obles and TOPs. I'd also make him some of this birdie bread: http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-food-recipes-diet/63942-most-nutritious-birdie-bread.html

I posted the nutritional content in that thread, too. I'd only have pellets as a third of his diet, at most. I'd also feed him sprouted grains (wheat, oats, barley, buckwheat, rice, etc.) and sprouted pulses (peas, lentils, mung beans, chickpeas, adzuki). Also, I'd give him a good variety of veggies and some fruits. Ooh, and dried lavender, red clover, hibiscus, and chamomile from the health food store are also yummy. Might that stuff on his beak be from a rusty bell or smeared poop? A few weeks ago, Noah pooped on me while we were cuddling, and he smeared it all over my neck, cheek, and his beak.