my parakeet has a black spot on his beak

[tiffyboo85]

Hello,

My parakeet has a black spot on his beak. He has had it for nearly a month now and am wandering what it could mean. He is acting fine, vocal and energetic as ever. just the black spot bugs me. I switched his food a few weeks ago, Im wandering if it is that. If not what could it be. Thanks

 

[Macawnutz]

Could you post a picture? It is hard to tell without seeing it.

 

[waterfaller1]

Hello and welcome to Avian Avenue! Is it possible for you to post a photo?

 

[waterfaller1]

Diet deficiencies can cause discoloration of the beak. How long have you had him, how old is he, and what is his complete diet? Also, what type of toys does he have to play with? Is it possible there is a break there?Has this always been there or is it something new? Sometimes an old injury might look dark. The beak is constantly growing and flaking off though, just like your fingernails. Though it might take a while for an injury spot to grow out it it is near the cere.

 

[ThatDarnBird]

Is it possible that he has a puncture, maybe from a bite by another bird, on his beak?

 

[Anne & Gang]

a picture would really help....sometimes a dietary deficiency will cause this..are you feeding a good seed and or pellet ALONG WITH plenty of fresh veggies etc? also hormones sometimes cause the beak to change color...and could he have bruised it somehow??

 

[Bokkapooh]

How old and how long have you had the budgie?

 

[Cinnyluver]

My cockatiel got a black spot on his beak from hitting it too hard on a window. It bruised but he was fine. Has your budgie hit anything recently?

 

[tiffyboo85]

thanks for all the replies. He hasn't hit anything that I am aware of. he is a very active and very talkative bird. I have had him for almost a year. he is 3 years old. (I got him from my grandmother when she passed away from cancer.) I am going to get him back on his regular parakeet food.
sorry about it not being clear. I only have a 2 mega pixel camera on my phone.

 

[Milo]

Making sure that he's on a proper diet is really key to his health. What sort of food are you switching him back to?

To me it looks like he bonked his beak on something, if it's a bruise then it will gradually heal. Do you have an avian vet near you that could give him a once over?

 

[Macawnutz]

Looks to me also to be a bruise. Any peeling or cracks there? No smell to him like an infection or decay right? The picture is alittle blurry but looks like a bruise. I agree with Jenny though, a trip to the vet for a routine exam will never hurt.

 

[ArloDuncan]

I agree with Jenny and Sarah it sure looks like a bruise! But he sure is a real handsome boy!

 

[Cinnyluver]

It looks a lot like my tiels beak when he was bruised. I didn't think he had hit anything either but even bumping it on a perch or falling can bruise it.

 

[tiffyboo85]

Thanks for the input. no he doesnt smell at all. it could be a bruise. He loves to make his bells ring in his cage i wonder if something on the inside of it transferred to his beak. Then again it could be a bruise. Im changing him back to parakeet food from walmart for 5 dollars. it has all sorts of colors in the container his stuff he is on now doesnt have the red blue and green seeds he loves. His name is Beaucoo, and I can't get enough of him. He is always happy and talks up a storm. My grandma taught him how to say peter piper picks a peck of pickled peppers. She also had gsn on all the time. So he says password, whats the password alot too. Lately he has been getting them mixed up and has been saying peter piper picks a password? LOL, it makes me laugh every time i hear it.

 

[tiffyboo85]

as for an avian vet i dont know if there is one around me. I live a hour away from a major town both ways. Ill have to call around and find out.

 

[Renae]

Not really sure, but if he has knocked his beak on something it could be the result of a bruise as already stated.

You really want to avoid buying seed from the supermarket, it is cheap and therefore usually full of unhealthy junk. We could help you find a good bird store online to get a good seed mix if you want? Where are you located?

 

[zoo mom]

[
good sex mix if you want? [/QUOTE]

What kind of mix Renee.

 

[waterfaller1]

He looks lovely! I agree, please do not use walmart food. I can't tell you how many birds I have heard of that declined and did not make it due to cheap food from there. The colors are artificial. I would use something like Volkmann's, or something in that caliber. Some fresh fruits and veggies too every day. Budgies usually love nice wet greens clipped in their cage.Perhaps he would take to some pellet crumbles like TOPS or Harrison's .Maybe a bit of egg occasionally. We have a section on nutrition, or you could start a thread in the budgie section and people could give advice what their birds like.

 

[Renae]

good sex mix if you want?

What kind of mix Renee.

Oh my gosh!!

You see, this is what happens when you have a Cockatiel *cough*Jack*cough* jumping on the keyboard.

 

[Anne & Gang]

You are much better off changing him to Hagens seed or something else....Walmart is not the greatest...You can buy good quality seed in a pet store....but you also need to supplement with fresh veggies etc..put some broccoli corn even scrambled eggs in his cage or in a dish....he will love it!! and it does look like a bruise.