Really dumb question

[wrench13]

So .. what do you do if your parrot eats so much mushed up sweet potatoes that he kinda fills up that hollow spot under his lower beak? How do I get it out? Is it dangerous to leave it?
'Boats you got a lot of experience with greedy Amazons..
Anyone?

I feel so dumb for letting him get that much in there.

 

[ZephyrFly]

Not an Amazon person but chipping in.

Assuming it's not causing him any discomfort or distress then why not offer him a bath?

 

[Kentuckienne]

Never saw that before. He must have bee scarfing down the taters. Gus actually lets us touch him there...I am sure he would hate being restrained and having it massaged back into his throat...is it dangerous?

 

[PetoftheDay]

That might be something to call the vet about - if you don;t have a 24-hour one where you are, Angell Memorial in Boston has vets on call 24/7!

 

[jiannotto9492]

Al, if Salty is willing to let you touch him there why not try to use a qtip under there just to loosen it up enough to come out? If not, I think it might just end up falling out.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

What he do Al? Bury his face in the sweet 'tatoes???
Is he part oinker or what??


Jim

 

[Loko]

Well i dont have an answer but would think the very gentle use of a qtip may help. I do have a quedtion though; what is behind there? Is it just a hollow spot or does it actually go through to his beak/throat?

 

[SailBoat]

So .. what do you do if your parrot eats so much mushed up sweet potatoes that he kinda fills up that hollow spot under his lower beak? How do I get it out? Is it dangerous to leave it?
'Boats you got a lot of experience with greedy Amazons..
Anyone?

I feel so dumb for letting him get that much in there.

Sorry Al, ! missed your Thread.

If I follow you correctly, we are talking about the external area below the lower section of the bill, correct? This area allows the expansion /movement of the 'skin like' structure of the lower interior of the month. Since this area really does need to move, keeping it semi- clear is important.

As with near anything external, water is a wonderful tool to wash away soft food. In short, an unscheduled bath time. Use of anything hard in this area could be very dangerous due to the sensitivity and softness of the 'skin like' structure i.e. where does the mash end and the skin begin issue.

Again, very sorry that I missed your Thread!

 

[Scott]

Just came upon this thread.... How is Salty today? Wondering if the food would dry and begin to naturally remove? Perhaps when he eats his next meal the flexing of the soft underside would help dislodge the sludge??

 

[Anansi]

I agree that going with a shower would be the way to go, here. A thorough drenching delivered by a shower would likely have the best chance of clearing out the hollow. Most birds would be averse to allowing a Q-tip or anything up in there, and Steven is right about how comparatively soft that skin is.

 

[Anansi]

...I do have a quedtion though; what is behind there? Is it just a hollow spot or does it actually go through to his beak/throat?

It is just a hollow spot, not a hole leading into the beak/throat. Years ago, I first noticed it after my cockatiel had crashed into my bookshelf. I swore he'd broken off a part of his lower beak and that there was now a hole at the top of his throat! Lol!

The thought had quite substantially damaged my calm.

 

[GaleriaGila]

I swear! Birds come up with more ways to confound us!
It's always something.

 

[Quakerella]

Just a thought and a question. Birds are naturally very clean and we know this from continual preening. Would it not be safe to say they would clean the area themselves, possibly with their nails? If it was kept soft with a light misting of water it may be easier for them. I would be scared to try to clean the area, as others have stated, damage could be done as the skin is thin, and it could be a very tender area. Movement of the beak could possibly dislodge it as well.