Koko's beak

[Greylady1966]

Just noticed this on her lower beak. Is it common? Thanks sorry bad picture
Carol

 

[Shezbug]

@Hankmacaw @Macawnutz @macawpower58

Burt often takes little nicks out of the bottom beak but nothing as drastic as Koko. Does it seem to be bothering her?

 

[Greylady1966]

She's been playing with toys today and eating with no problem. It's such a big chunk! She keeps running her tongue over it, I'm sure it feels strange to her.

 

[macawpower58]

Yes, when the beak gets too long, I'll see chips come off, a few times chunks like you're seeing.
I just make sure there's lots of enjoyed wood for them to chew to wear the jagged edges back down.
If she'll tolerate a filing, you could use a fingernail file to smooth it out.

 

[Shezbug]

It is a good sized chip shes missing. I’m guessing that as long as she can eat, preen, climb as usual it will be ok.

 

[Greylady1966]

Thank you it bothers me more than her!

 

[Macawnutz]

Oh, that's a big one. She must be pretty long in her bottom beak for that chip... unless it's a lot if angle with the photo.

It will be alright. If it starts happening often might want to have the vet do the bottom beak.

 

[Greylady1966]

I blame myself for that. Our CAV vet is about 3 hours from us, a friend told me about an exotic vet an hour and a half from us so I took her there because he said he does nails and beaks. Curbside only, done in 10 minutes, freezing out so I didn't inspect her beak or nails. We wouldn't change vets anyway but thought it'd be nice to have a shorter drive for her nails and beak.. out 165 dollars and bad beak job. Lesson learned.

 

[Macawnutz]

Three hours is a very long trip with birds Carol... I don't think there are many members that wouldn't try to have the simple done closer.

It's not hurting her. Older Blue & Golds really seem to have a lengthy beak and it's really just your personal appearance preference to file it. As long as it's not impairing her ability to eat or preen there is nothing wrong with it. Kailua gets a long top beak and when she does it often breaks in a painful way so I file it.

I know so many members opt to not do nails themselves but since you are so far.... have you considered it?

 

[Clueless]

Any chance of finding a former vet tech that can do nails at your home?

I know there was a traveling avian vet.....

 

[Greylady1966]

Yes I've thought about it. Koko let's me mess her toes, and opens her beak for me. Last night I got a nail file out and sat by her messing with my nails but not looking at her. She came over and after awhile wanted it. I had her pull it out of my hand so it would be her choice to take it and not me forcing it on her. I'm going to keep doing that with her. I just feel I messed her beak up and stressed her to make it easier for me, not thinking about her.

 

[Greylady1966]

We are asking people if they know of anyone that has experience with parrots. My daughter volunteers at a shelter, so she put the word out.

 

[Clueless]

I just feel I messed her beak up and stressed her to make it easier for me, not thinking about her.

Bull feathers.

You constantly think about your feathered dudes. For the love of mud, you took Koko in for care!

 

[Clueless]

@Greylady1966

This quote is at my desk at work: We expect more of ourselves than we have any right to. It's by Oliver Wendell Holmes.

 

[Greylady1966]

Yeah I need to get off the pity potty and learn to file her beak and nails. Thanks for all the advice

 

[Greylady1966]

@Clueless it didn't open.

 

[Clueless]

@Clueless it didn't open.

Nothing to open. That was the quote and quite often, the truth. I forgot to put quotes around it.

 

[Greylady1966]

Thank you. It's very true.

 

[Greylady1966]

We took Koko and got her beak done. So much better. I'm going to work with her to see how she does with me filing her beak. I need to find a better file. Any ideas?

 

[macawpower58]

Looks good!