A healthy beak means a happy parrot. You must have heard that your pet parrot is happy if he has a healthy beak. Well, this is true because the parrot’s beak is the most important and useful part of his body. It is not only used for eating but also for playing, prying, climbing, drinking, etc.
A parrot’s beak should be in good condition for its good health, comfort, and happiness.
I know you must be wondering what are the ways to take care of your pet parrot’s beak. Surprisingly it’s not that difficult to maintain your pet parrot’s beak. There are many ways to make your feathery friend’s beak strong and healthy.
- Providing your pet with nutritious meal like fresh vegetables, fruits, and hard seeds & nuts. A balanced diet is most essential to take care of your pet parrot’s beak. Hard seeds and nuts help parrot’s in chewing and biting activity. You can also give chew toys like mineral blocks, coconut pieces, ropes, and others. This helps your parrot to maintain a healthy beak.
- Only fresh and clean water should be given to your parrot. You must have seen that after your parrot eats, it cleans and wipe its beak on objects such as perch. So, a conditioning perch is important for a parrot to keep its beak healthy. You can use natural well-washed branches from a non-toxic tree.
- You should often see a veterinarian keep your pet parrot’s beak in check. If the beak appears too long it could mean that your bird has some health issues like liver disease. It’s advisable to see a veterinarian to make sure that your pet parrot is healthy. The doctor trims or grinds the beak properly so that your parrot feels comfortable. You should never attempt to trim your parrot’s beak at home as there is a large blood vessel running down the centre of the beak. Doing this at home might injure your parrot.
- Identifying the beak injuries and treating them on time is necessary. Beak injuries are very common in parrots as they use their beak not only for eating but also for playing, climbing, prying, etc. Injured beaks are very painful and because of which your pet parrot becomes lethargic and avoids eating and playing. Identifying those injuries is essential to keep your pet parrot’s beak healthy.
- Another easy step you can take to promote your pet parrot’s healthy beak is a safe house. A safe cage is also important to take care of your pet parrot’s beak. The parrot uses its beak to climb the cage. It sometimes chews dangerous objects such as metal bars or electrical cords. This results in scratches, breaks, or burns of the beak.
Why Beak Care is Important?
Sometimes we think that the wild birds don’t get any beak care, so why your pet parrot need it.
The reason is that your pet bird is not used to the rough environment because of your daily care. They get used to the softer diets, gentler toys, and easy life. Pet parrots don’t use their beaks as wild birds do. They don’t need to whittle out the woods to make their home. They don’t need to run or climb into the rough places from their predators to save themselves. These things help wild birds to keep the length of their beaks in check.
But pet parrots do not have to go through all these struggles. Hence, their beaks tend to overgrow. The overgrown beak makes your pet parrot uncomfortable and they avoid eating food and water. This results in deteriorating health and becomes a serious issue.
So, beak care is important as it is the key to the overall health of your pet parrot.
Why Your Pet Parrot Suffers Beak Injuries?
Your parrot’s beak is made up of bone and keratin just like our nails are made up of keratin. They break when they are struck to hard things. Parrots use their beak to climb around the cage bars which results in the breaking of beak on the edges. Though it’s normal and does not cause much harm to your parrot.
But some beak injuries are due to direct trauma that is caused by attacks from other animals. It’s important for you to know common beak problems so that you can take action when needed. Your pet parrot suffers from beak punctures, bone fractures, crushing injuries, etc. Identifying these problems and fixing it before it leads to more health issues is important.
How to Prevent Beak Injuries?
We always say that prevention is better than cure but we don’t act upon it. Though some beak abnormalities cannot be prevented like infections, a cancerous growth, and congenital defects. But injuries due to traumas can be prevented.
If you let your parrot bird out of the cage to fly around then make sure that the mirrors and windows are covered with sheets, all the fans in the room are switched off, or another thing that can harm your pet bird flying is not there.
Proper wing clippings by a trained individual are also a good method to prevent traumatic injury from the flight. They know how to trim enough feathers of your pet parrot so that it does not drop like a stone.
Medical Treatments for Your Parrot’s Beak Injuries?
Based on the seriousness of beak injury medical treatments are offered. In the cases of minor beak injuries, they can be healed by immediate veterinary attention. But some parrots suffer from traumas and severe beak trauma injures are not treatable.
Well, this might be difficult for you but this article can help you to understand beak injuries a little better.
Beak changes like discoloration or growing masses on the beak are not considered a serious issue. But it is advisable to consult a veterinarian as soon as possible. Infectious diseases are hazardous to your pet parrot’s health. Infections due to burns, wounds, and fractures should be cleaned by antiseptic. Small burns may be cleaned with antiseptics and treated with systematic antibiotics and pain relievers. But severe crushes and fractures need surgical repairs and medical assistance for the long term. Abnormal beaks also require immediate medical attention because they can be easily cured in the early stages.
Is Overgrown Beak Dangerous for Parrot?
The overgrown beak is an abnormality in a parrot where its beak is grown excessively long. Sometimes it grows to the length where the normal functions get difficult. The size of upper beaks grows so long that the parrot becomes uncomfortable. This leads to a problem in opening and closing of the beak and hence result in malnutrition and other health problems. The overgrown beak is generally due to improper diet, or infection, or injury, or liver disease. The overgrown beak of your pet parrot cannot be avoided. At the early stages, it does not create many problems but after some time, it becomes difficult for the bird to even eat, drink or sleep. If it goes unaddressed then with time it becomes a serious issue and thus poses a huge health risk. That is why trimming of beaks is important.
How to Avoid Overgrown Beak?
Wild birds use their beaks to search for food and build their nests. This helps to keep their beaks from constantly growing. This natural process of living keeps their beaks in check. But this is not possible for pet parrots as they are provided with cages and food. Your pet parrot does not use their beaks as it would in its natural habitat. Hence, it results in beak issues like overgrown beaks or infections. The only way to avoid this abnormality is by taking care of your pet parrot’s diet and environment. You can schedule your visits with your pet’s veterinarian to trim your beak and nails. And it will also help you in identifying any health issue with your parrot.
Is Home Treatment Possible for Beak Injury?
Maybe you cannot see the extinct of your pet parrot’s beak injury but it is very painful for them. They become upset, dull, and less vocal. If your pet parrot avoids eating food or stops chirping that means he is in pain.
Although you can only identify the injury by going to a veterinarian you can help ease the pain of your pet parrot. Offer them soft food in small pieces which are easy to eat. Just like pasta, cooked egg, soft vegetables, or fruits. Try to monitor their food intake and hand fed it. You can also separate your pet parrot from his mates for some time.
Related Questions
How do you clean the bird’s beak? Take a container with an inch or two of water. Use mild soap and gently bathe your bird to clean her.
What chew toys do the parrot love? Use natural non-toxic chew toys for your pet parrots chewing activity like wooden toys, mineral blocks, ladders, ropes, etc. The parrot- like playing with them as they keep them cheerful all day.
