Peeling beak?

[osnyder]

Hey everyone. Today Stitch's beak seems to be peeling worse-- suddenly there is an area that is lighter-- looks exactly like when fingernails peel. I had noticed it before but it wasn't as bad, and looking at earlier photos you can see that it has those slight surface cracks/ridges in the same place that seems worse now. He REALLY gnaws on his cage sometimes; he's definitely been doing it a long time due to the surface being worn off in many areas.

I tried to take photos, not excellent but you can see the lighter area. Also, sorry they're not upright.

At what point should I be concerned? Is this normal?

 

[Mayden]

Merlin had something similar which I almost took him for the vets for, looks just like a normal peel to me.

They kinda 'shed' their beaks, replacing layers under each other so the top layer flakes off. Looks normal to me!

 

[osnyder]

ok! thanks very much.

 

[Pedro]

While it's true that bird species such as Cockatoos and some Conures are prone to flaking on their beaks, flaking is not necessarily normal.

The most common cause of flaky beaks is a vitamin A deficiency, an issue that can easily be remedied by making sure your pet is offered a variety of fresh foods and high quality supplemental pellets.

At times, however, a beak can get whitish, flaky looking lines on it that are normal "growth" lines. Much like human fingernails, a bird's beak grows continuously throughout its life, and the new growth can cause the beak to appear streaky or striped.

If you think your bird's beak is growing abnormally, or if pieces of the beak actually flake off, the best thing to do is contact your vet immediately. They will be able to diagnose the problem and help your bird get back on the road to exceptional health.

To help keep your pet from developing a beak problem, offer your bird plenty of chew toys or cuttlebones to exercise and grind his beak on. This should go a long way in keeping your bird's mouth healthy, which will in turn keep your bird happy and feeling great!

 

[roxynoodle]

I, too, was wondering about vitamin A deficiency. I was also wondering if he has a "wear" mark from the bar chewing.

Also was wondering about why so many downy feathers on his breast? Pete has that on his thighs and under his wings due to his poor nutrition in his previous home. I know you just got Stitch so this isn't on you. It does look like he needs a good diet all the way around, which I'm sure you are giving him. A year from now both beak and feather will probably look 100% better.

If he's not on pellets, you will need to work hard to get him converted. And encourage foods high in vitamin A like carrots, sweet potatoes, orange squash and mango. Usually they will eat mango pretty easily if you are having a hard time getting him to eat his veggies.

 

[roxynoodle]

Also, my BCC seemed to need full spectrum lighting perhaps even more than my other birds. If you don't have one, get one as soon as you can for him.

 

[kc_y0]

Hmm I'm a little worried now. Audrey's beak is pealing a little too But I'm sure she is getting enough vitamin a !

 

[osnyder]

Good morning! I am QUITE sure there is wear on his beak from bar chewing.

The molting on his chest does seem extreme to me; there is some regrowth, but its uneven. They had taken him to the vet the day before I picked him up, and said that he seems to molt 2X a year and so not to worry (like I'm not going to worry, pfft). He doesn't seem to be plucking.

He eats pellets, but it's not a large enough percentage of his diet at the moment. I'm working on that for sure. I've been trying different ways to feed him the pellets and he seems more likely to eat them if they're not mixed with anything else-- he seems to prefer the salad bar approach to eating and not the all-in-one-bowl approach.

I like the full-spectrum light idea, I'll do that. I was contemplating a mango the other day at my co-op so I'll do that too. The only fresh things he'll eat reliably at the moment are banana and apple, and a little carrot. I'm going to look into a supplement to be on the safe side.

THANKS ALL <3<3

 

[lizardsmells]

If he's not a pellet lover you might want to try Nutriberries. Kazi will eat pellets if nothing else is in his dish he likes, but you can tell they're not his favorite. Nutriberries he goes nuts for, though. I try to make them at least 50% of his diet because otherwise he'll leave the healthy stuff and fill up on fruit. But if he has Nutriberries those are the first thing he eats.

 

[roxynoodle]

My BCC was the pickiest bird I've ever had. She would not anything orange. She would eat mango though. I would make her bread and mix in jars of baby food carrots or sweet potatoes to hid the orange. You might try putting them into oatmeal or similar. She also didn't like Nutriberries much, unlike Rowdy.

However, the full spectrum lighting made a night and day difference with her. And she knew it as well. As soon as I got it, she would sit under it with her wings spread out taking a sun bath. I have them for all my birds.

I am already seeing a big difference in Pete's new feathers, feet and beak as well since I got him in November, now that he eats pellets, veggies, fruit and has full spectrum lighting.

 

[Pedro]

Hmm I'm a little worried now. Audrey's beak is pealing a little too But I'm sure she is getting enough vitamin a !

KC it's not a normal thing for an eclectus beak to flake, a hens beak should be smooth, black & shiny. I think Audrey would benefit from some natural branches with the bark on so she can groom her beak. Mine just love to rub their beaks on the rough surface.

 

[kc_y0]

Pedro she has lots of natural branches which she grooms her beak on. Her beak still isn't black yet, so could it be just from changing? I've noticed it getting darker.

 

[MissyMe83]

This post is kind of worrying me too. I noticed today that Tates beak was "shedding" but I thought it was pretty normal. Now I wonder if it's not as normal as I thought. I do know however, that he eats well and it shouldn't be any kind of vitamin deficency. He eats fresh fruits and vegtables daily, chows on his pellets, as well as a few different dried fruits and veg, nut, and seed mixes. I woke him up to snap a few pics....


I only see it on one side on the upper beak. Opinions on whether this is normal?

 

[Neravas]

Codex looks similar

 

[osnyder]

Codex looks similar

I can't tell from this photo but I'm glad if you think it looks similar since they're the same species.

I have to say that the layer of Stitches beak that suddenly looked more peely is now coming off. His beak underneath is not cracked. I was looking at my friend's birds this weekend (I'm bird sitting) and noticed evidence of all sort of beak shedding-- his conures especially seem to have minor imperfections.

Needless to say, I'm addressing his diet, have already started putting supplement in his water and am pushing more pellets/less seed and high vitamin A fruit. I had him with me in the sun yesterday morning too, which was awesome.

O.

 

[roxynoodle]

osnyder, Tate looks fine to me. I believe those lines on beaks are the growth lines? I will try to get some pics of Rowdy and Merlin for you later. Right now it's still pretty dark with the rain this morning and the time change. Rowdy has been really camera shy lately though.

I haven't yet been able to bring myself to look at pictures of Bri, my BCC who passed in October. I know that is what would be most helpful to you, so I will try to bring myself to do it.

Rowdy and Merlin also both have black beaks. Pete's is both black and horn colored, but he isn't exactly the picture of health yet.

 

[osnyder]

Roxy, please don't out yourself through that. You are incredibly helpful already.

My instinct and research is telling me that Stitch's beak is within the realm of normal but not something that is "good." Not unlike my own peeling fingernails! But his beak's health is more important than my fingernails, natch. I'm keeping a close eye on it.

 

[roxynoodle]

I think Stitch is suffering from malnutrition from his former home. Now that he is on a better diet with you, and you get him the full spectrum light, I think you will start seeing a difference in the next couple of months, and a year from now, he will probably be a completely different bird.

Of courses it would be nice if he would stop chewing the cage as well, lol!

 

[osnyder]

I think Stitch is suffering from malnutrition from his former home. Now that he is on a better diet with you, and you get him the full spectrum light, I think you will start seeing a difference in the next couple of months, and a year from now, he will probably be a completely different bird.

Of courses it would be nice if he would stop chewing the cage as well, lol!

I agree. I know it was purely inadvertent, they loved him very much. And I should clarify by "normal" I just mean something that can be addressed and is a fairly common problem. I very much hope you're right that the next several months show improvement!

 

[roxynoodle]

I'm seeing differences already in Pete. He and his previous owner loved each other very much, but the owner was just ignorant on feeding birds. He said I would never get Pete on pellets, but it wasn't very hard at all.

And I know my BCC had calcium issues because I didn't have the full spectrum lighting. I ignorantly thought that her being in front of a window was fine. After I got it she improved very quickly.