Bodinus Beak peeling

[Prazmodious]

I have a bodinus amazon and have had him for a little over a year. Hes 4 or 5 years old I think (rescued him). In the past couple of weeks tho his beak has begun to peel. I'm still going through the forums here to find a related thread. but i'm just a little worried, its not too bad but i don't want to let it go. If anyone has any useful info that would be awesome, or even a puh in the right direction thanks guys.

 

[henpecked]

Can you get us some good pics? a little history? Diet? Welcome to the forum, We have a great amazon section and excellent forum members. Of course we'd love pics of your zon but need good pics with good lighting of his beak. Have you found a good Avian Vet in your area ? Where are you, maybe someone knows one in your area.

 

[friedsoup]

Diet is the most likely culprit see if you can get him to eat carrots or kale, anything with alot of Vitamin "A" other than that it is not a major problem all birds shed beak scale just when the diet is off there is alot more of it.

 

[Prazmodious]

I haven't found a good one but his actual owner takes him to the vet when needed. I'm taking care of him while his owner settles some personal things although as of late i'm getting the idea he's mine now.

we're going for a claw and feather trim this friday so I intend to get some vet advice then too but as I happenned across this forum in my searches I thought why not ask. Thanks guys you're awesome. I'll try the carrots and kale as well. I also found something about almond oil, but I don't see him letting me apply it.

 

[Prazmodious]

also I forgot to mention his food, I buy the large parrot mix, Its mostly sunflower seeds with corn, peanuts, dried figs and such. For treats I use slivered raw almond and nutriberries
(his favorite)

 

[henpecked]

Great bird, pretty rare also. Is he getting his red patch on his back yet? his beak doesn't look that bad to me. It doesn't alarm me anyway. You can add Red Palm Oil to his diet also. I'd say he might have VitA deficiency and liver issues from that diet. The diet really sucks, it's way too high fat for a amazon, especially if clipped.You should read some threads about converting to a pelleted diets with fresh fruit/veggies, and seed /nuts only rarely. Glad you joined and hope you stick around. Let us know what the vet says. PS what's his name ?

 

[Prazmodious]

that's great you just took a load of stress off my mind. I've been feeding him what the owner instructed and time and time again he seems to be off. I've tried to give him fresh veggies but he just drops anything not dry and crunchy. I'll look into the pellets this time around for food, it's about time to pick some up.

To be honest I really didnt know much about him until recently, originally i was going to take care of him for a few months but here we are a year later, and Me and Bobo bonded pretty good, he's chillin on my shoulder right now. I've been doing my research to train him. He had a huge issue with women when we got him (one attacked him with a shovel) that's why he's here now. But after much care and love he's coming around. He'll even step up for my fiance now, before he would just bite her. I think his training wasn't so good before I got him.

Also the spot on his back is huge and extremely vibrant. I'm told he's really strong too, right now He's flighted, but he has made a break for the front door when people come over so I suppose it's for his own good.

 

[Prazmodious]

Yeah, did some checking of the diet questions thread, Going to start changing the food tomorrow. You're awesome thanks for the advice.

 

[henpecked]

Well, welcome to the world of being owned by a amazon. Soon you'll be as crazy as the rest of us. Really great bird ,your lucky. If seen flocks in the wild ,man are they loud!! Never seen one as a pet before. You should tell us all about him and post some more pics for the other members. Hey Bobo

 

[Thekatsmeow]

Would love to see more pics and know how they differ from other zons. Very pretty bird and I am so glad you care enough about him to make the changes he needs to be healthy. I started my zon on pellets for the first time ever this morning and she took to them. She doesnt bury her head into them like she does her seeds but she was willing to try them for me.

 

[Prazmodious]

Bobo is an very sensitive bird. I can't leave him alone in a room for more than a few minutes with out him doing a combination of screaming talking. I often end up having to bring him from room to room with me for most of the afternoon/early evening, which I don't mind cause hes fun, just stubborn about always stepping up. of course.

He Says "Hi Bobo" consistently. Often in the morning when I open his cage, and when I get home from work. Part of his screaching is starting to sound like words here and there. I'm pretty sure I hear "oh my god". Also does a cat call whistle, but not very often.

Recently he's started taking off on his own from time to time. He likes to hang out and be part of everything. I also have 2 dogs, and when my fiance and I are watching tv with the dogs sitting next to us; he'll take off and fly to me and perch on my knee or something.

He can be mean too tho, especially to women. Hes very much more likely to bit a woman than a man. Men he'll just make sounds at if they get to close for him. With women he'll lash out with his beak from his perch. That's getting better tho, just taking a long time.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Welcome to the forum! WOW, I've NEVER seen a Bodine's Amazon. You are so lucky!! And he is one good looking fellow. And so lucky to have you taking such good care of him.

Would it be rude to kindly ask for more pictures of your pretty boy?

 

[Oedipussrex]

I've tried to give him fresh veggies but he just drops anything not dry and crunchy.

Im not really an amazon person, but maybe you could slice veggies like carrot / potato / zucchini (anything a little solid) and bake them on a tray to make little veggie chips if he likes crunchy things? it might be worth a try to start off with. welcome to the forum ^-^

 

[friedsoup]

Most likely he doesn't see what your offering him as food and needs to see you eating it and acting like you love it and he can't have any, like all little children they want what you have and if you withhold it they want it even more. Fresh finds makes a chip called veggie straws made with tomatos and spinach,and potatoes. My bird loves them.

 

[Gshepdog]

Hi:

I would suggest a cuttlebone perch or a calcium perch. Most Amazons will rub their beaks on the perch and the perch will help file off the peelings. My OWA no longer has a peeling beak since I switch the perches. The vet was amazed at how good her beak looked.

My new DYH has been offered food everything under the sun. She and the OWA have total different likes. I just keep offering things and she is trying everything now. She loves seeds because her previous owner had switched her to pellets only to prevent obesity. Now she gets a mixture of both along with fruits and veggies. She gets plenty of exercise.

Good luck.

Lee

 

[Prazmodious]

He actually has one of those perches in his cage, Thank you though. After studying up on his dietary needs I think it's definitely a diet thing. Another thing i realized is i changed the nutriberries a while back because the pet store didn't have the ones he normally ate. That was a few months ago and i think it kind of correlates with the peeling too. I ordered him some pellets to try, so hopefully that will help too.

 

[Prazmodious]

Alright, Bobo's new pelleted food came in today. It smells fruity and delicious!. I loaded up his bowl with a combo of is seed food and the pellets and he's in there right now making happy amazon noises. Thanks guys with anyluck this diet change will have his beak black and shiny soon. Later today we will be going in for a claw trim and probably a wing clipping. I don't exactly like the idea of clipping his wings but he hasn't gotten to go outside in a few months now and he really enjoys his back porch perch so I think it's time......also I'd like to be ably to use my ceiling fans again, lol.