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Post by Scooter on May 17, 2018 17:29:13 GMT -5
The top layer of my 17-year-old quaker's beak started to flake off from the bottom up. The under layer from whats shedding off looks dull and not smooth like the top layer. It's probably been going on for a year and a half. His beak is slowly losing a top layer and it is about half way gone. I'm not sure what to do about it. The doctor couldn't give me any explanation or treatments to suggest. It almost looks like some type of mineral deficiency. Like a finger nail that loses its smooth finish and color tone.
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Post by dinucci on May 18, 2018 6:32:58 GMT -5
I have a mineral block tied next to his food dish with a zip tie. He hits it a lot to hone his beak and such. It's a round reddish almost miniature hockey puck looking thing that I bought at a bird show. The guy I got it from says if he's hitting it,he is missing something from his diet..I dunno about that tho as he eats very well and is not picky. Is he on a pellet diet? Also,they sell a vitamin spray or liquid additive for his food.
I used this before on my girlfriends aged cockatiel during his last months. He hated it,but a lot of quakers like softened food,so there's an option too.
Kinda surprised that your vet didn't do a blood workup with a mineral panel..if it doesn't get any better, you might want to ask for one..could rule out or produce a different finding.
Best of luck!
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Post by Scooter on May 18, 2018 8:13:52 GMT -5
Thanks for the input. The doc did do blood work, but said nothing abnormal showed up. He said some flaking on the beak is natural, but he said he hasn't really seen a condition like his. It doesn't seem to bother him so I have not been too concerned about it, but its been a while and hasn't gotten any better. If he ends up with an ugly beak so be it, I'm just worried it may be a weird disease that will eventually cause his beak to fall off.
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Post by julianna on May 27, 2018 15:13:09 GMT -5
If the vet is an avian vet... and he has never seen or heard of this... well... I might want to try another avian vet if there is one around. My Quaker Oscar has a perch that is very rough... kind of sandy... he uses this every day to smooth out his beak and his beak is beautiful. I have seen many pictures of Quakers that have flaky bills and usually that is normal.
I believe your Quaker needs the right material to rub his bill on... and he will take care of it on his own. There are many things you can get at a good pet store... so I would suggest you shop around a little.
Good luck.
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Post by Scooter on May 29, 2018 17:08:13 GMT -5
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WkEE8MRhcyQXm0DrujgOc7z49Iya92B1/view?usp=sharing
He's supposed to specialize in birds, but I was disappointed he had nothing to tell me regarding the flaking. It looks funny because the top layer flaking off isn't really growing back. It is just leaving the bottom layer exposed. It looks like someone who has a weird finger nail that grew  in bumpy and dull. |
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Post by julianna on Jun 1, 2018 14:15:41 GMT -5
That is not good Scooter... like I suggested... try another avian vet. Bird Bills are something they should be extremely familiar with... that is my opinion.
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