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Post by siobhan on Dec 30, 2014 12:22:09 GMT -5
Benjy had a beak injury some time ago -- I suspect Jade -- where it looked as if he had his face bitten. He got over it quickly and it never slowed down his eating or his mischief, but since then, the end tends to get too long. The last time, he trimmed it himself or it broke off but that didn't bother him, either. It's just the point, and it's a very thin, narrow part that grows. Right now, it's too long again, and I've been letting it be figuring he would do it himself again when he's rubbing his beak on cages like he did before. But that doesn't seem to be happening and I'm thinking I need to take care of it for him. He's not going to like this one speck, either. So, what do I do? Everybody else manages their own beak. Emery board? Would that work?
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Post by easttex on Dec 30, 2014 15:28:53 GMT -5
Very, very carefully? I'm a born worrier; seriously, it's genetic. If I don't have something valid to worry about, I'll make something up to keep me up at night. So, keep that in mind when I say I would not do it myself, at least not without getting a good demo from someone who really knows what they're doing. Their beaks are surprisingly sensitive, and an overgrown beak can be a sign of a physical problem, like liver disease. (See what I mean about me?  ) However, some people that do it themselves use a Dremel. I 'm sure an emery board would work, too. It would take longer, but would probably be safer in the hands of a novice. |
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Post by msdani1981 on Dec 30, 2014 16:22:33 GMT -5
My vet uses a dremel...I'm not that brave. LOL The beak is extremely sensitive and has a lot of blood vessels in it. If I had to do it myself (Tito always went to the vet to have it done, and he did have a liver problem...but I remember when Benjy's beak was hurt, and I suspect that you're right) I would probably use an emery board. Hope this helps! Here's the thread from the old forum about Benjy's beak: www.quakerparrots.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=60572&hl=benjyI couldn't find the tread from when it had just happened. |
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Post by siobhan on Dec 30, 2014 16:47:07 GMT -5
It's very thin and the light shines through it, so I don't think the blood vessels reach that far. It really looks like a fingernail that's gotten too long and brittle. I watched him eat like a piggy just last night, so it's not in his way yet. He eats the same diet everyone else does -- a combination of his own food and whatever he can steal from the other birds' dishes, including Quaker-sized pellets that he plows through as if they were mashed potatoes. Maybe I'll wait another few days and see if it corrects itself like it did before.
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Post by msdani1981 on Dec 31, 2014 14:30:25 GMT -5
If it's not bothering him, I would let it go for a few days. |
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Post by siobhan on Dec 31, 2014 14:40:18 GMT -5
It doesn't bother him. It only bothers ME. LOL He's using it perfectly fine. He clambered out of his cage this morning using it, too.
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Post by msdani1981 on Dec 31, 2014 15:03:15 GMT -5
Yeah, I know. Tito's always bothered me until we took him for his trims. LOL
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) However, some people that do it themselves use a Dremel. I 'm sure an emery board would work, too. It would take longer, but would probably be safer in the hands of a novice.
