Overgrown beak....

[dulphinz]

Does an overgrown beak stem from something in particular? Should I have it trimmed by the vet or let him keep at it on his sand perch?

 

[dulphinz]

I'll try to post a picture later it says I reached my quota...

 

[Featheredsamurai]

A slightly long beak isn't really bad, but a overgrown beak is usually a sign that health issues are present. You should head over to the avian vet, get their opinion and have it trimmed. Even if the bird is healthy a overgrown beak will be damaged easier if your bird whacks it on something.

Here's a few photos from Google of over grown beaks

 

[dulphinz]

Thanks! Coco's isn't that bad, but I can see it's longer than it should be and the part that's too long is really narrow. I'll try to have him checked this week.

 

[lpolliard]

Try hanging a pine cone. Chico's beak gets a work out grinding the pieces he clips off.

 

[dulphinz]

How do you clean the pine come before putting it in the cage?

 

[Featheredsamurai]

How do you clean the pine come before putting it in the cage?

You can buy safe pre cleaned pine cones very cheaply at MySafeBirdStore

Personally I would be worried about just picking up a wild pine cone and using it, birds, squirrels, rats, mice, and probably bugs all love the seeds and would of been climbing all over them.
http://www.mysafebirdstore.com

 

[Pajarita]

When it comes to parrots and overgrown beaks, in my personal experience, this is never because of not chewing and always because of too much protein in the diet -something that most ekkies in captivity get.

 

[dulphinz]

Too much protein...he's on about 10-15 harrison pellets a day then he get fruits and veggies morning and night and sometimes for dinner it's a grain mix that I make with veggies (barley, quinoa, amaranth, pearl berries, etc...) Where would the extra protein be from??? I don't give many fruits that are really high in protein from what I read. thanks

 

[lpolliard]

You can wash them and put them in the oven at a low temperature for several minutes to kill any bugs or germs. I read on the forum the suggested temp and time but don't have the specifics. I just pick them from our tree (no pesticides up there) then wash and dry them. I drill a little starter hole where the stem use to be and screw in a stainless steel eye hook for hanging.

 

[MikeyTN]

When I got my ekkies their beaks were a bit long and damaged. I was concerned and fixing to have them done at the vet and the day before the appointment they trimmed them with the new concrete perch I bought for them. I thought to myself, so much for the appointment....lol
They had one I bought them but they didn't use it as good as the second one that I give them which is the round old fashioned rough concrete perch. Sometimes when they have nothing to file their beak on they tend to over grow them a bit as they grow like finger nails as they do need to be trimmed to be kept in shape. Perhaps try another concrete perch? Make sure you place it at a higher point in the cage for them to want to use it.

 

[SoCalWendy]

Too much protein...he's on about 10-15 harrison pellets a day then he get fruits and veggies morning and night and sometimes for dinner it's a grain mix that I make with veggies (barley, quinoa, amaranth, pearl berries, etc...) Where would the extra protein be from??? I don't give many fruits that are really high in protein from what I read. thanks

Quinoa is a true protein.

 

[dulphinz]

Thanks Mikey! I'll go grab a concrete perch today. Now would eating quinoa in small amounts once or twice a week cause "protein overdose"?