Mishka African grey : Chipped beak

[antoinette]

As usual today Mishka continued to demolish her swing. I noticed she was playing with a piece of the wood. Biting pieces off and chucking them all over the place. Earlier tonight when she walked into the kitchen, I noticed she has chipped her beak. She had eaten normally the entire day, eat her dinner without a problem. There's no bleeding at all, checked her thoroughly.

Must I let nature take it's course ? ? ?
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Below is a link, which I am sure many of you would find interesting.



Broken and Cracked Beaks: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options as well as Prevention

 

[Spiritbird]

Antionette: Now I know we are bird sisters. Rosie has a vet appt. tomorrow morning. I too noticed not a chip but it looks like a little fracture on the lower beak. I know it is fractured because food or other things kind of get caught in this crack. She can function and eat ok and no bleeding or pain. I think she did this when she flew into my sliding glass doors a couple times. Not hard and of course her wings are clipped so it was a low fly. I read up and found a beak fracture is like a broken tooth. A chip may repair itself.

 

[antoinette]

Antionette: Now I know we are bird sisters. Rosie has a vet appt. tomorrow morning. I too noticed not a chip but it looks like a little fracture on the lower beak. I know it is fractured because food or other things kind of get caught in this crack. She can function and eat ok and no bleeding or pain. I think she did this when she flew into my sliding glass doors a couple times. Not hard and of course her wings are clipped so it was a low fly. I read up and found a beak fracture is like a broken tooth. A chip may repair itself.

Shame our poor babies !!!!!
Looking at Mishka's beak, it looks like a definite chip, not a fracture.
No food gets caught in it, if anything, it would probably go straight through.

 

[HRH Di]

Poor things! Sorry, but I'd be hysterical. You two are handling it beautifully. Since your girls don't seem to be in pain, I'm hoping this will be a quick and easy healing process.

 

[Spiritbird]

After Rosie's vet visit: I tell you these avaian vets know their business. Rosie had her feet and wings trimmed and the vet showed me 2 blood feathers (one on each wing) and they will only get one blood feather at a time on each wing for protection. The place where I thought her beak was fractured was actually normal sloughing of the beak. All in all this visit only cost $28. Vet also provided education on cage agression. As she said this will pass if you go about it correctly.

 

[antoinette]

After Rosie's vet visit: I tell you these avian vets know their business. Rosie had her feet and wings trimmed and the vet showed me 2 blood feathers and they only get one at a time on each side of the wing. The place where I thought her beak was fractured was actually normal sloughing of the beak. All in all this visit only cost $28. Vet also provided education on cage agression. As she said this will pass if you go about it correctly.

Your avian vet sure knows their business alright. Gives one such peace of mind. 2 blood feather's, on one side, OMG that's the first time I have heard of that.
Glad you were able to get good advise on cage aggression, I know you have been struggling for a while.

 

[antoinette]

Earlier today, while placing Mishka on her swing, the part she stands on just collapsed. I took a good look and look what I realized

She had not chipped her beak on a piece of wood, but had broken the wire, where it
twists at the end of the swing.
The top pic, shows how it is twisted.
The bottom pic, where she just broke it off.
Happy ending for a bad start ............... LoL
I began to make her a new swing from old parts etc, when a new customer arrived to collect his order. He loves birds, has a ringneck. Anyway, he helped me make Mishka a beautiful new swing.

Showed him our beautiful forum, guess who will be joining us shortly "George"

Just wish it was that easy to repair her chipped beak !!!!!

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Their beaks continue to grow and it will repair itself, but it can also be handy to go to a vet or a (very) experienced groomer to get it sanded down and smoothed out so nothing gets caught on it potentially making it worse.

Think of it like a hangnail, it'll go away on it's own, but trimming/filing it down will ease the process a good bit.

 

[antoinette]

I am always preaching to others "Rather be safe than sorry"
I stick to guns, taking her to the avian vet tomorrow.

 

[parrotqueen]

Poor Mishka, that's sad.

Like the above mentioned, it should eventually grow out. AD has a good suggestion, sanding it down sounds like a nice idea. I don't know if I'd do that immediately though, because just what if it's sanded down a little too far, and she isn't able to close her beak enough to chew her food? If she's already doing fine, I don't know if I'd tamper with it just yet. Maybe wait a little while longer? Just a thought.

I'm hoping that all goes well with whichever action you take with this, and that this doesn't get worse.

 

[antoinette]

Poor Mishka, that's sad.

Like the above mentioned, it should eventually grow out. AD has a good suggestion, sanding it down sounds like a nice idea. I don't know if I'd do that immediately though, because just what if it's sanded down a little too far, and she isn't able to close her beak enough to chew her food? If she's already doing fine, I don't know if I'd tamper with it just yet. Maybe wait a little while longer? Just a thought.

I'm hoping that all goes well with whichever action you take with this, and that this doesn't get worse.

Thanks for your concern and feedback, really appreciated it.

My thoughts are, if I don't take her, and it gets worse, I would never forgive myself. Will ask for advise, and see from there.

 

[antoinette]

Their beaks continue to grow and it will repair itself, but it can also be handy to go to a vet or a (very) experienced groomer to get it sanded down and smoothed out so nothing gets caught on it potentially making it worse.

Think of it like a hangnail, it'll go away on it's own, but trimming/filing it down will ease the process a good bit.

You always give such great advise, will follow it through definately.
Mwah

 

[antoinette]

I am so Mishka visited the avian vet today.
Her beak is fine, no need to sand it down at all.
Said no food particles will get stuck, as there are no cracks.
Reckon my baby is just going through stages and growing up.

 

[Spiritbird]

Good news and I guess you are relieved as well.

 

[antoinette]

Good news and I guess you are relieved as well.

Absolutely relieved, love good news LoL
I think the picture I took, actually makes it look worse..... damn and I thought my photography was improving.

 

[antoinette]

OMG I could not believe it, looking a Mishka's beak this morning ......
Just how much Mishka's beak has almost "repaired" by it's self

 

[Aussie Ben]

Wow

These birds can talk, do tricks, sing and even heal themselves lol - they never cease to amaze. This is great news antoinette

 

[Spiritbird]

Fantastic!! We all learned from your experience.

 

[antoinette]

Fantastic!! We all learned from your experience.

I did not realize that it would heal so quickly
It's almost back to normal, I am so happy

 

[antoinette]

This is amazing it's 3 days short of a month since Mishka chipped her beak.
Check out the pic's below, 1st one taken on 7/6/2010 and 2nd pic today 3/7/2010
I believe in "self repairing"

Now my "baby" can smile again

I love it when a beak, I mean when a plan comes together LoL