Parakeet missing top beak

[LadJen]

Good morning,

I have a 2 month parakeet that is missing its top beak. I am not sure whether he was born like that or attacked by the parents, but he has been like that since I saw him at 2 days old. The mother fed him and took care of him and surprisingly he survived. Now Im having the issue of trying to have him eat. I been mashing pellets into a puree but he shakes his head every time he touches it. I have tried pulverizing the pellets but then he ignores it and continues looking for seeds or pieces of pellets that don't fit in his mouth. The mother continues to feed him but much less often now and he is starting to lose weight. I have tried force feeding but he does not stop squirming and fighting the entire time, to the point he gets red. I really want him to survive and just don't know what else to try. Does anyone have any recommendations I can try that maybe will help this baby learn to eat on his own or at least get some food in his crop. He has been pooping black since yesterday and I know that's a sign of too little food. Please, anything would be greatly appreciated. I posted a couple photos of him, if you look carefully you can see he does have a top beak but its disfigured and going inward at the roof of the mouth.

 

[Tyrion]

Poor guy

 

[Sparkles99]

Is there any chance of seeing an avian vet? Since it's growing, maybe they could get it to reorientate outward. Don't try this yourself.

I'm concerned that it'll cause problems growing into the throat like that, longterm.

What a precious, wee budgie!

 

[Blueberry]

Could he maybe scoop up de hulled seeds. Maybe cooking some millet to make more easily digested (this way he can 'peck'/ scoop it in his mouth)??

 

[LadJen]

Is there any chance of seeing an avian vet? Since it's growing, maybe they could get it to reorientate outward. Don't try this yourself.

I'm concerned that it'll cause problems growing into the throat like that, longterm.

What a precious, wee budgie!

That's what worries me a bit but I've been looking at it and it hasn't grown, when he opens his mouth wide you can see where it ends. There aren't any good avian vets in the area, there is only one and he recommended that I euthanize immediately. Which I don't want to do as he is so active and happy besides the beak and food problem.

 

[LadJen]

Could he maybe scoop up de hulled seeds. Maybe cooking some millet to make more easily digested (this way he can 'peck'/ scoop it in his mouth)??

I actually haven't tried that, he scoops up millets and then holds it in his mouth before spitting it out. How would you recommend I cook the millet? Do I hull them and then boil? Or is there another way to cook them? Thank you for the idea!!

 

[taxidermynerd]

I have some threads around here somewhere from when I was caring for my Chirp, after he lost his beak.

I fed him softened pellets. It was to a consistency he could scoop up with his lower beak. I'd mix in other things, like quinoa, millet, veggies, etc.

This is something that needs medical care. However, unless he is in pain or suffering, i wouldn't euthanize. He can live a long happy life, just needing some adaptations to make things easier for him to do.

 

[Shezbug]

He really does needs to see a vet as you may need a more specialised diet to ensure he’s getting all the nutritional content he needs and to check there’s no issues with that beak that you can’t see.

I wonder if finding him a mate would help- I’ve seen others like this that were lucky enough to stay healthy as they got fed by a mate.

 

[Blueberry]

I actually haven't tried that, he scoops up millets and then holds it in his mouth before spitting it out. How would you recommend I cook the millet? Do I hull them and then boil? Or is there another way to cook them? Thank you for the idea!!

I buy sprouted millet for people and just boil it (I cook it like I cook rolled oats) I believe the brand is Pure Living. I do know that de hulled millet is sold on Amazon. Please keep us updated on how your little miracle is doing!

 

[LadJen]

I have some threads around here somewhere from when I was caring for my Chirp, after he lost his beak.

I fed him softened pellets. It was to a consistency he could scoop up with his lower beak. I'd mix in other things, like quinoa, millet, veggies, etc.

This is something that needs medical care. However, unless he is in pain or suffering, i wouldn't euthanize. He can live a long happy life, just needing some adaptations to make things easier for him to do.

that’s exactly what I do, I soften the pellets and make a paste for him to scoop it but he just won’t go near it, he touches them shakes his head and won’t touch it again. How did you teach your bird to eat the soften pellets? He is a happy bird flies around the cage and loves chirping with the others and he even plays with toys that are in the cage. He doesn’t show any signs of pain or being uncomfortable. I know that if he learns to eat, he can definitely live a normal long life.

 

[LadJen]

He really does needs to see a vet as you may need a more specialised diet to ensure he’s getting all the nutritional content he needs and to check there’s no issues with that beak that you can’t see.

I wonder if finding him a mate would help- I’ve seen others like this that were lucky enough to stay healthy as they got fed by a mate.

i did take him to a vet and the vet told me there’s nothing I can do and to just euthanize him.
what i am trying to feed him is softened pellets, he just won’t learn to scoop it up. His mom surprisingly still feeds him although less every day and so far no other parakeet is interested in the poor guy. i don’t know if maybe when he gets older someone might pick him as mate.

 

[LadJen]

I buy sprouted millet for people and just boil it (I cook it like I cook rolled oats) I believe the brand is Pure Living. I do know that de hulled millet is sold on Amazon. Please keep us updated on how your little miracle is doing!

Just got the de hulled millet I’ll let you know how it goes, thank you!!

 

[Shezbug]

i did take him to a vet and the vet told me there’s nothing I can do and to just euthanize him.
what i am trying to feed him is softened pellets, he just won’t learn to scoop it up. His mom surprisingly still feeds him although less every day and so far no other parakeet is interested in the poor guy. i don’t know if maybe when he gets older someone might pick him as mate.

Maybe try different consistency and temp with your wet pellets?

I’d grind the pellets into a power and add warm water, one of my birds loves warm mushy pellet paste but he’s not keen on soggy whole pellet or cold wet pellet.

Was the vet you saw an avian vet or just a regular vet?