Post by eric on Mar 23, 2016 2:17:40 GMT -5
Hi all,
I've a Quaker that is roughly ten years old and, lately, has been showing signs of excess beak growth more problematic than in the past. In the past, it would seem to be getting on the long side but, just as quickly as I noticed it, the problem would correct itself (excess length flaking off, being ground off, or however otherwise disappearing). The only thing that has changed in his environment is the size of his pellets. In the past, I got him an intermediate size of Tropican pellet (the green package with the African Grey on front) from a privately owned, local pet shop. Conveniently, this intermediate pellet was both small enough for my Quaker and large enough for my 'big' birds. That shop has since closed, however, leaving me to rely on chains where I can find pellets in only smaller/Quaker and larger/Amazon-size specific varieties. Could just the reduction in pellet size be responsible for excess beak growth from the reduced wear involved in feeding?
He has plenty of toys, but has never shown a whole lot of interest in chewing on wooden ones (apart from rearranging hooked wooden ladders...I think he's a bit O.C.D.). He does spend plenty of time attacking all things shiny, however, mirrors, chimes, bells, etc. In lieu of the intermediate-size Tropican pellets which can no longer be found locally, I've been buying him the Cockatiel/Quaker sized pellets from ZuPreem (partly transparent package with Cockatiel on front) and their Amazon-sized variety for my 'big' birds (partly transparent package with male Eclectus on front). The 'Quaker' sized variety is not half the size of the pellet he used to be eating, while the Amazon-sized variety is more than twice the size (not a problem for my larger birds, but probably too large for my Quaker under any circumstances). I've noticed he does not dunk 'these' pellets like he did his former ones, so could the excess growth be from just the lesser work/challenge involved in eating?
Please let me know your thoughts.
Many thanks,
Eric
I've a Quaker that is roughly ten years old and, lately, has been showing signs of excess beak growth more problematic than in the past. In the past, it would seem to be getting on the long side but, just as quickly as I noticed it, the problem would correct itself (excess length flaking off, being ground off, or however otherwise disappearing). The only thing that has changed in his environment is the size of his pellets. In the past, I got him an intermediate size of Tropican pellet (the green package with the African Grey on front) from a privately owned, local pet shop. Conveniently, this intermediate pellet was both small enough for my Quaker and large enough for my 'big' birds. That shop has since closed, however, leaving me to rely on chains where I can find pellets in only smaller/Quaker and larger/Amazon-size specific varieties. Could just the reduction in pellet size be responsible for excess beak growth from the reduced wear involved in feeding?
He has plenty of toys, but has never shown a whole lot of interest in chewing on wooden ones (apart from rearranging hooked wooden ladders...I think he's a bit O.C.D.). He does spend plenty of time attacking all things shiny, however, mirrors, chimes, bells, etc. In lieu of the intermediate-size Tropican pellets which can no longer be found locally, I've been buying him the Cockatiel/Quaker sized pellets from ZuPreem (partly transparent package with Cockatiel on front) and their Amazon-sized variety for my 'big' birds (partly transparent package with male Eclectus on front). The 'Quaker' sized variety is not half the size of the pellet he used to be eating, while the Amazon-sized variety is more than twice the size (not a problem for my larger birds, but probably too large for my Quaker under any circumstances). I've noticed he does not dunk 'these' pellets like he did his former ones, so could the excess growth be from just the lesser work/challenge involved in eating?
Please let me know your thoughts.
Many thanks,
Eric
I have only had a quaker for 2 and 1/2 years, so I think you would be more experienced than I. However, my opinion is that I cannot envisage the size of the pellet being responsible for more beak growth, as grinding a pellet down to eat it doesn't seem like it would be that hard for a quaker beak. Others will know more than I (Easttex, any insights?).
