Mini Macaw with possible over grown beak.

[LoveOfAllParrotd]

Hi there, I am parrot sitting for a great friend and I concerned about her 12 year old mini macaws beak. It seems very long to me in my experience and it often looks like he has a difficult time eating his food. She has been feeding him a pelleted food, very good brand for a long time but it's for budgie sized parrots, it ran out and I went and bought him the same brand and flavor but of appropriate size, he eats the smallest if the pellets great but the banana shaped ones he has a difficult time handling and almost tries to break them with the back sides of his beak! He's in great weight and is going through a healthy molt with beautiful shiny new green feathers.

Here are the best images I could snap of his beak.

Thank you!

I believe he needs in nails trimmed too!

 

[nyspy]

I was told it could be a sign of liver dysfunction. Might want to get it checked out by an Avian vet. Duke had the same problem. It was his liver. The vet will also take care of the nails as well.

 

[Buzz2537]

Omg I had the same question. i too have a Hahn's 'Macaw and her beak is identical. I read that the Hahn's are prone to their beaks becoming over grown so do not worry right away about a health issue. Hahnna is 5 months old and I was just going to post the same picture you did to ask if it looked overgrown, because she is my first Hahn's. i am bringing her in on Saturday or Monday to see if her beak needs to be trimmed. As I said I did read they are prone to over grown beaks.

 

[Buzz2537]

Do you have an Avian vet or a pet store that specializes in parrots where they do grooming? We are in NJ, and Bird Paradise where Hahnna came from does nails, beak and wings. They told me to bring her in and they will tell me if it is getting over grown.

 

[Buzz2537]

I was told it could be a sign of liver dysfunction. Might want to get it checked out by an Avian vet. Duke had the same problem. It was his liver. The vet will also take care of the nails as well.

And yes, being your baby is older and never had an issue it may be good to bring her into an Avian vet and have a blood panel run.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Not responsible to leave without making sure there was enough food D:

Have you talked to your friend about your concerns?

Rosie, my galah cockatoo, eats tiny pellets while Kenji, my African grey, eats much larger pellets. It's all up to what the birds like, not the size intended for it's species. Many pet stores will accept returns even if the product is opened, as long as you have the receipt and the food isn't mostly gone. You should get what he's used to eating, not what you think he should be eating

 

[Buzz2537]

Hey can I ask you how much he weighs? Hahnna is at about 137 grams. I read they range between 140-150 grams. As I said she is my first. Thanks

 

[Buzz2537]

And, I am sorry. I read your post quickly and did not realize this was not your baby. It is very nice that you care enough to post and try to help.

 

[Klaery]

Maybe a little overgrown but I wouldn't stress. Hahn's typically do have a longish beak (very sharp!) And I don't image this is causing him trouble. A vet will trim it for you though and make sure there are no underlying health issues.

Buzz 137grams is fine I have weighed Hahn's from 135 up to 155. Elroy hovers around 150 (flighted). I have been told of much larger Hahn's too, but in my experience the ended up being either overweight or having some noble in them.

 

[goalerjones]

My Hahns has the same size beak when he needs a trim. That length is fine. It grows to a fine sharp point and looks too long unless you're used to seeing it. I would get it trimmed back a bit just to keep the fingers safe from intense sharp pain and instant bleeding.

Oh, and for the record, my little psycho is 2-1/2 years old and weighs 139gms. He is non flighted.

 

[jakrob4]

Just buy him a pack of wooden pegs and take the metal springs out.
Abby my Hahns is nearly 2 years old and has had a point on her beak a few occasions but she snapped it off after a couple of days (not to the point of it being painful). Now she is a bit older and more confident she chews too much stuff to give it the chance to get long again. I would say its fine by the photos.