Beak Clipping

[sweetie]

I think I would be petrified if I had to do that lol x

[bubs7]

offline

Joined: Dec 2012 Gender: Female Posts: 10

Re: Beak Clipping « Reply #16 Yesterday at 10:16pm »

Hi I have the same question as rlf993, my Toni has loads of things in her cage like thick sticks and wooden perches and cuttlebone. She chews on EVERYTHING! But how do you know when it needs trimming? At the end of her beak it's a little bit dark (best way to describe is that it looks like when humans have dirt under their nails?).

Great video btw!

[Hezz]

A budgie's beak shouldn't need trimming at all. But liver problems in some budgies can lead to their beak growing much more rapidly than normal, and so normal wear and tear doesn't keep it short enough, hence the need to trim.

If you think your budgie's beak needs a trim, see a vet first to find out why.

[Leanne]

Do budgies beaks sometimes chip? Elvis' beak looks like a human finger nail if its splitting. I went to get them out just now and he has a bit of blood on the tip of his beak. Im wondering if it has slightly chipped and scratched his tongue? There are no visible blood spots on his feathers or feet. He seems to be constantly nibbling at something in his mouth, as if chewing on a seed? Maybe trying to file down the sharp bit? He is still jumping about and drinking so doing his normal elvis stuff. I just got a real shock. He has had a dodgy feather for a few days which he sometimes gets back into place, most of the time its lying skew whiff and I thought he had finally pulled that out but as I say there are no blood spots on his other feathers. He wont sit still long enough for me to take a pic. I might put their cover over now and let them settle for the night. I have put their bath in the bottom of the cage incase he wants to bathe himself later

[mizloco]

If I'm right, experts please tell me if I'm not, it's just where the beak is growing. Get a picture if you can just to be sure.

[starlingqueen]

It's hard to say without a picture. If there is blood he may have broken the tip off. The chewing could be just beak grinding that they do when settling down for a nap.

[Hezz]

May 2, 2014 19:55:47 GMT Leanne said:

Do budgies beaks sometimes chip? Elvis' beak looks like a human finger nail if its splitting. I went to get them out just now and he has a bit of blood on the tip of his beak. Im wondering if it has slightly chipped and scratched his tongue? There are no visible blood spots on his feathers or feet. He seems to be constantly nibbling at something in his mouth, as if chewing on a seed? Maybe trying to file down the sharp bit? He is still jumping about and drinking so doing his normal elvis stuff. I just got a real shock. He has had a dodgy feather for a few days which he sometimes gets back into place, most of the time its lying skew whiff and I thought he had finally pulled that out but as I say there are no blood spots on his other feathers. He wont sit still long enough for me to take a pic. I might put their cover over now and let them settle for the night. I have put their bath in the bottom of the cage incase he wants to bathe himself later

This is a comparison I have often used, and the answer is yes. But, you mention a spot of blood. That would not be normal. Can you be sure it is blood? Nothing red to eat, or toys with red on them? I have had a couple bang their beaks rather hard, but never gotten blood, so this makes me wonder. And they will sometimes seem to be continuously working at something in their mouths; this is perfectly normal. A good clear closeup photo on the macro setting is probably needed to be sure that he hasn't broken the tip off his beak ....... not sure how you will achieve this, though.

[Leanne]

[Leanne]

ive read that the beak has a blood supply, do you think he will be ok? the bleeding has stopped and he as opened his mouth and i cant see fresh blood in there, my poor boy. i am going to try to seperate him from tinkerbelle, she is trying to help but when he tries to get around the cage he wont use his beak as a 3rd point of contact so is hopping around the cage. it seems to be the very tip

[Hezz]

Wow, he must have given it a real whack!! Poor boy! As long as it is not bleeding; that is the main thing. Yes the beak has a blood supply, and just like their nails can only be trimmed, if needed, by a certain amount. It must be a little sore for him not to be willing to climb about using it, but I am sure he will be okay.

That is a great photo you managed to get of him.

[Leanne]

i have been like an anxious mother with a newborn again!
i have rang my local first vets as they are listed as avian. they passed me onto a specialist (goodness knows where it is!) anyway i spoke to them and they said that its good its not bleeding, i said it will probably cause him more stress as he is not finger tame so getting him into the small cage and then the travel would possibly be too much stress. she advised to keep an eye on him but to keep them in a dark environment, so they are currenly covered over and the curtains shut. i tried to seperate them but they were having none of it. i just hope elvis can get some rest. he looks tired, possibly from not getting much sleep being uncomfortable and keeping away from tinkerbelle. so we wait, im going out soon so they will have a bit of piece and quiet. i can hear him moving around the cage, poor little man

[Hezz]

He'll be fine, don't worry.

[Leanne]

omg i am so happy , he is sat chattering away like he always does, i think he is feeling a bit better! have been and bought treats for when he is feeling up to it! some nice egg biscuits! while i have been out there seems to be a little bit more blood around the cage but it appears the tip has now come off, it is not bleeding at the minute but he is much much happier in himself. chattering and telling tinkerbelle off, tried to preen but i think it may still be tender  

[Leanne]

i am an idiot i tried to let tinkerbelle out for a quick fly as she was chasing elvis around when he started getting chirpy again, elvis managed to get out aswell, him flapping must have caused a little bleed. he has it around his face now with flying and then cleaning himself. i should have left them in the cage. i have now covered them back over so they can settle. the bleeding had slowed down when he was settled. now he is still it looks to have stopped again. i feel like crying, what a stupid thing for me to do

[Hezz]

Don't be too harsh on yourself. You were trying to do the right thing by Tinkerbelle. If you could have put Elvis into a separate cage, this would have been a better solution, but don't risk it now. Just do your best to keep both of them calm and settled. If Tinkerbelle gets flighty, Elvis will as well, so keep both quiet.