Electus Beak issue...or not?

[jfish930]

Hello All,

This forum has been a big help with the last issue I had with my Eclectus, so I am looking for more help.

My 4 and a half yr old female Eclectus (Sophie) looks as if she is growing a new beak. In other words, there is about a 1/8 inch of a "point" of new beak growing under her existing beak.

She seems fine. I noticed that she is playing with chewable toys a lot more than usual, I would guess that is not a coincedence.

My local bird "expert" said she is growing a new beak, and just make sure to keep it clean (but he hasn't seen her, I just called on the phone).

My questions are:

1) is this normal? Should I take her to an Avian Vet?
2) When my local bird guy trims her nails and wings, should I have him filethe beak? I've heard pros and cons to both-he uses a very fine dremel on his birds beaks for just a few seconds.

Please advise!

Thank you everyone!

 

[Pedro]

A photo of her beak would be good.

Although i very much doubt that she would be growing a new beak as a parrots beak continuously grows. What i think that maybe is happening her beak is a little flakey. She may need some grooming perches, as in cement or natural tree branch with the rough bark left on in order for her to groom her beak herself.

Is she getting a well balanced diet because a flakey beak can be a sign of Vitamin A deficency.

 

[jfish930]

Thank you for your reply Pedro!

No, her beak is not very flakey at all. There is just a very noticeable point sticking out from under her "top" beak. It does indeed look like there is a new beak (or at at least a new point) growing there. ??

 

[jfish930]

also, I cant seem to zoom in close enough with my camera to get a good shot of her beak--too blurry (cheap camera)

 

[Pedro]

Give her lots of things to chew on. Will she chew on a cooked bone of something like. Will help wear the tip down.

Here is a pic of one of my hens. That is what her beak should look like. Although this hen is only about 3 months old.

 

[jfish930]

Thanks for the help Pedro.

Yes my Eclectus looks like she coud by your bird's twin! (except for the small point growing and also of course my birds bleak is all black since she is over 4 yrs old). Her beak has always looked normal up to now.

I will have my bird guy look at her. He will know what to do, he is a small, local bird shop owner and he refers folks to one of the best Avian vets around. If she needs to go there for a visit he will let me know,

Thanks again!

Joel

 

[MikeyTN]

A concrete perch will fix your issue! I think I know what you mean. Theres the old layer of beak while the tip looks like its growing out like a sprout. The beak just needed a proper filing and of you provide the concrete perch she will use it.

 

[jfish930]

Thank you Mikey. Yes you have described the condition of her beak perfectly. Unfortunately, she has a small coral/shell? type perch on her door that has been there for a couple of years. She ignores it now!! Maybe I should get her a new one?

I think that tomorrow I will take her to local bird guy and he will use his dremel to file it down--he knows what he is doing.

Thanks!

 

[MikeyTN]

Get a concrete perch! It will work, trust me!!! IF you place it as the highest perch, she will use it.

 

[mandolynn]

Yes mikettn. The highest and in a back corner has always worked the best for my birds. That's where birds usually sleep, so they will spend alot of time there. A must have and use for all parrots.

 

[mtdoramike]

If you take her to an avian vet or a good bird groomer, they can file that down for you.

 

[jfish930]

Thank you both for your advice! I am going to get her a concrete perch today and will put it in a corner at a height above her other perches.

She does have a coiled rope perch that she sleeps on always--I think I will leave that there for now.

Thanks again!

 

[jfish930]

Re: Electus Beak issue...or not? Update

hello everyone,

Just an update:

Sophie has been sitting on her new concrete perch! I took some advice here and it is the highest perch she has and it is in a back corner. To my knowledge, she isnt using it on her beak, but at least sitting on it is a start.

I also bought her a weavy shedded thingy (not for beak conditioning, just for a treat). Usually these last a couple of weeks but she shredded about 60% of it in 2 days (it is next to the new concrete perch).

Lastly, I bought her a mineral block made with spinach and carrots. I usually don't buy any stuff like that because Eclectus's have such delicate systems, but she gnawed off about 30% of it already, and THAT is a tool for beak conidition.

My bird guy said (on the phone) that she has a new beak coming in and she should be fine. He also said he doesn't need to see her --it can wait a couple of month until she gets her nails/wings trimmed.

Thanks for the help and advice everyone!

JFish