bad beaks--very good info!

[crimson]

I was looking up info on how birds manage to eat with just either an upper or lower mandible(missing one or the other)

I came across this site-

Most of the pictures are easy to look at, but I must caution you, some are quite graphic, and really tugs at your heart.

It gives excellent illustrations on how important the condition of a birds beak is and how it gives insight on their internal health.

It really blew my mind how some of these birds were still able to eat!

http://www.scottemcdonald.com/pdfs/Bad Beaks.pdf

 

[getwozzy]

Ohmygoodness all those poor babies!!!!

 

[crimson]

Ohmygoodness all those poor babies!!!!

.....I know!, that's why I put the warning on there, did you see that cockatoo???
OMG I've never seen anything like that in my life!! that is some serious stuff right there.:52:

 

[getwozzy]

I know -I saw the warning... And I looked anyways. I've never seen anything like that!! EVER! I swear I will never ever ever never EVER let my fids' beaks get like that- I can't even imagine trying to convince myself a beak in that kinda shape is "ok"

 

[Kalidasa]

My god. I could only get thru the first several and had to stop. Those poor, poor birds.

 

[crimson]

I couldn't get over how some of them curled around on top of their head!!, how in the world did they eat???

I was just looking it up to find out how Num Num will manage should he loose his lower mandible(which I think he will eventually) so I am trying to prepare myself with as much knowledge as I can, so I don't let him down.

 

[crimson]

My god. I could only get thru the first several and had to stop. Those poor, poor birds.

awwww,your such a softie.

 

[Kalidasa]

Num-num looks like an Adonis compared to those birds. Goes to show that there always someone much worse off, making us count our blessings.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

That was hard to look through all the images

 

[crimson]

That was hard to look through all the images

I totally agree, that cockatoo almost made me cry. how that poor bird suffered!

I posted this to inform people of what beaks with 'issues' would look like, but then the pictures got worse and worse

 

[BillsBirds]

Very sad photos. But, they show that things can be helped. There is hope for Num Num. My Lovebird that lost the top of his beak to an Amazon lived 6 more years. His beak grew back malformed, but, usable. It needed regular checkups & shaping. As for those photos, I have seen several scissor beaks in my rescue work. All of them were relatively repairable. Some more than others. That poor 'too. PBFD is a degenerative disease that usually gets worse as time goes on. Generally leading to death. That Budgie with scaly face looks like two Budgies that were recently left on my patio. Nice, huh? I treated them with Ivermectin, and both are healthy & happy in a new home. Be strong, and keep a positive outlook. Modern Avian Veterinary Medicine has come a long way, and there is hope for Num Num.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

The worst one for me was the little bird with the scab, that when removed left a big gaping bloody whole into it's sinuses Made me want to cry!

It's horrific that birds are allowed to reach this point

 

[getwozzy]

I couldn't get over how some of them curled around on top of their head!!, how in the world did they eat???

I know!!! I was shocked! I can't understand how they eat either!

 

[BillsBirds]

Birds with beaks like that eat by scooping up food, like shoveling it up with whatever beak parts they can. Then lifting their heads, and letting the food fall back to their palates where it is cracked and ground. A sad thing to watch, knowing how they should be eating.

 

[SoCalWendy]

That was heartbreaking to see, but am glad that I read it.

 

[MonicaMc]

Guess I'm kind of used to it for having had Charlie for 7 years, and which is slightly less than the amount of time that he's been missing half of his lower beak. Quite a few people do ask why his beak is the way it is, if it will grow back and if he can eat or drink just fine.... but he eats and drinks just fine! Has difficulty with seeds, but otherwise, no problems in eating.

 

[crimson]

Very sad photos. But, they show that things can be helped. There is hope for Num Num. My Lovebird that lost the top of his beak to an Amazon lived 6 more years. His beak grew back malformed, but, usable. It needed regular checkups & shaping. As for those photos, I have seen several scissor beaks in my rescue work. All of them were relatively repairable. Some more than others. That poor 'too. PBFD is a degenerative disease that usually gets worse as time goes on. Generally leading to death. That Budgie with scaly face looks like two Budgies that were recently left on my patio. Nice, huh? I treated them with Ivermectin, and both are healthy & happy in a new home. Be strong, and keep a positive outlook. Modern Avian Veterinary Medicine has come a long way, and there is hope for Num Num.

yeah, not so nice. Ivermectin is the best there is hands down!
It has saved many of my birds which were doomed to die.
I've treated red mites, air sac mites, and feather mites, all nasty in their own way, and they die a suffering death.
Bless you for saving those budgies.

my head is in a different place since I saw that web site, now things don't look so bad.