Nutrition issues of young budgies

[hector]

Hi guys and gals

I got two 2 months old budgies.
They had a hard start: father has phisically abused them (some of their siblings even died), then mother stopped feeding them when the father got taken out of the picture. So I have had to hand reared them.
They got different issues now.

Greengrocer (the green/yellow one on the pictures):
The tip of the upper part of his beak was teard off by his father
I was hoping that it will simply grow back, but unfortunately it seems like he closes his beak the wrong way: the lower part goes over the upper part - this makes the upper part to wear faster than the lower. Otherwise I'm positive that his beak does grow well.
He manages to feed enough, but obviously it's difficult to him (wait a second: I'm not 100% sure if it's a male - what you think?);
He spend much more time with eating than his little sister.

Railroader (albino) is doing fine, except that I think she doesn't peels the seed, just eat them as they come.
Can that cause serious problems for her?

I have tried to put into their cages older birds (one by one) to teach them "stuff", but they didn't seemed to want to share their space.
Which is fine from one point of view, as I don't want them to completely lose their tameness.

I would really appreciate any good advice - what should I / could I do for them?

The pictures:

[Allan]

A vet or some one with experience may be able to trim back an over shot beak, have you tried your local Budgerigar Society a good place to start.If they are feeding themselves then you will have to let them get on with it and they should be fine.Try contacting the Budgerigar Society to get the number of your local Society.Allan

[Hezz]

Hi Hector, I can't answer your questions, but can only say you have done an excellent job with your two "orphans" I am no expert but is there any way you could trim the lower beak on Greengrocer to give the upper beak time to grow back sufficiently to cover the lower? Someone with experience in that sort of thing would be great....do you have a vet you can ask?

[budgiefriend]

They are very cute little birdies, Hector. Hope you can find solutions to their eating problems.

[barrieshutt]

The beak cannot be corrected but can be trimmed, all chicks need their beeks checked and any food cleaned from the inside of their beaks during their time in the nest box, if not cleaned the beak will grow deformed.

The breeder must not be aware of potential problems during the weaning process of chicks

[hector]

Thanks for the inputs everyone.

I myself was also thinking about the option of trimming the lower beak to allow the upper part to grow over it. I just don't know if it would work!?!?

Barrie, it wasn't the food, it was the father who started to beat up its spawns - he bite off the tip of Greengrocer's upper beak. Lord, I thought this little green bud was gonna die suffering... had quite bad injuries on his head and throat too... but he is a real piece of fighter.

[Hezz]

Find a good vet and ask about the beak.