new birds, first time owner

[rojapo]

hi, this is my first post. We picked our 5-6 week old blue boys up yesterday morning from a family home that had bred them. I'm a little worried about their beaks. You can see it quite clearly in the pic, both their beaks are the same. They seem to be growing a little outwards instead of down and in if that makes sense. Any advice or suggestions as to what it could be or are they normal for this age?

Also if you look at his feet the back claw is either caked in poo or has a strange growth over the nail, which do you think it is?

The slightly larger bird came out the shoe box in the bottom of their cage after an hour or so but the other bird hasn't come out yet, he is eating and will chirp to certain bird sounds played on you tube but still hasn't come out. Is this normal?

Thanks

[splodge]

Hi and congratulations on your new boys. I'm no expert but the others will be along with advice soon. The beak doesn't look right though, you're right. And I'm not sure what that is on the foot either. Do they have names yet? 5-6 weeks is too young to be away from home I think, although like I said, I'm no expert!

The other bird will come out when he's ready. Cover some of the cage with a light cotton sheet, if you haven't already, and leave them to it. It is terrifying for them so they need time to acclimatise. Talk to them but don't handle them unless totally necessary.

More pictures would be helpful for the other forum members, if it won't stress the birds too much.

(PS I'm using my phone so can't see the picture very well. Couldn't tell if it was poo on the foot or not.)

[Hezz]

There is nothing normal about that beak, I am sorry. If you could take as good a photo as the first one, but from the side, to get a profile shot, would be really good. As for the foot, it is more than likely poop caked on; you can give the foot a soaking and try to get this off as it will cause the claw to grow unnaturally. If it doesn't come off straight off, just keep soaking it, and I am almost certain that with a little persuasion it will come off.

I do know beaks can become deformed from not being cleaned up properly, so if you can do the same with the beaks are with the foot, just to make sure there is not a whole heap of gunk stuck that is making the beak odd, and early intervention can help rectify the problem. I will try to get the opinion of a breeder to help you through this.

[rojapo]

thanks for your replies, ive added some more photos, these are the best I can get with my phone.

[OP]

I have rotated the first image for you, it gives us a better idea.
I hope you don't mind.



I have also rotated and cropped the last photo to give us a better view.

[Shirls]

Sorry, I am no expert either, but at 4 - 5 weeks old you have to make sure that they can eat properly, they don't usually leave their parents until at least 8 weeks. More experienced members will advise you soon I am sure. Welcome to the forum btw.

[skysmum]

Hi and welcome This looks like bad husbandry in the nest .

The upper mandible is obviously deformed, this can be caused by soft food getting lodged and caked in the mandible when the parents are feeding them. A breeder should be on the look out for this at all times and should be ready to clear the blockage. Some can be born like it as well and its caused by hereditary defects or mineral deficiencies.

The foot is caked in poop and food from the nest box, you should soak his little foot in warm water and clean it off.

I'm not sure what can be done with the beak, it may need trimming by an avian vet over time to encourage it to grow properly. All you can do for now is make sure he is feeding.
I'm sorry but this little guy does not look old enough to be away from the nest and should never have been sold in his current state

[Tacey]

I had some budgies identical to this brought to my shop by a breeder and I had to turn them away... you're not in Bristol by any chance are you?

Wish I could help in some way but I have no advice sorry.

[Hezz]

Barrie Shutt's response was this, as I thought:

Just hard poop on the foot and as for the beak it just appears to have not grown normally , this often happens it the upper and the lower mandibles are not cleaned inside if caked with food



I don't necessarily agree that 5-6 weeks is too young to leave the parents, but for first time owners, yes it is. It is also probably too young for first time home breeders, if that is where these have come from. They obviously haven't been looked after terribly well, as experienced breeders would have made sure that the beaks of these little guys were cleaned up properly.

[OP]

What, if anything can be done about the beaks for these poor little souls?

[Hezz]

I asked Barrie about this; I was under the impression that with good hygiene and beak cleaning they can grow out and be normal, as I mentioned in my first post. My question:
Is there anything that can be done for the beak, and is there any hope it will rectify itself if cleaned up properly?


Barrie's response: Beaks are like our finger nails and suffer wear and tear , if the bird is eating okay I cannot see a problem

[OP]

Let us hope rojapo is actually reading these posts.

[rojapo]

Yes I am reading these posts.
Thank you all so much.
Both birds are eating well, the top half of the beaks seem to be ok, hopefully they will eventually grow out if they're like fingernails. Should I be cleaning their beaks now?
The poo on his nail came off no problem ? he seemed to enjoy the bathroom!

[fluffball]

rojapo it's great you've joined the forum - welcome - everyone is so helpful and friendly! It seems like you are a concerned and caring budgie owner. I was looking at the photos and my hubby peeked over my shoulder and said what a lovely budgie! It sounds like there's hope for the beak, which is good news.

[Hezz]

Aug 1, 2015 13:07:41 GMT rojapo said:

Yes I am reading these posts.
Thank you all so much.
Both birds are eating well, the top half of the beaks seem to be ok, hopefully they will eventually grow out if they're like fingernails. Should I be cleaning their beaks now?
The poo on his nail came off no problem ? he seemed to enjoy the bathroom!

I would, just to give the birds the best possible chance for their beaks to grow through normally. What are they eating?