Overgrown beak

[Cocomaco]

I've noticed that Coco's beak is a little bit overgrown. He was mysteriously ill recently, so he had a diet overhaul- now I am very careful to give him plenty of fruit, veg, pellets, beans etc every day (beforehand he was on 80% seed, 20% greens etc).

I don't know whether this beak problem is related to his previous problem (see my into post for details), but I suspect that he is still not 100% (sometimes he seems a little weak, and likes to cuddle up to his tent in his cage rather than come out at times). I don't know what it could be since is diet is now really good.

Does anyone have any advice? Should I trim his beak? It also seems to be peeling a bit, more than usual I think- i.e. actual flakes coming off.

Edit to add- after his illness, he was on vitamin and calcium supplements, I was wondering whether the overgrowth could be due to that?

Here's a photo:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/Mooseyisfat/beak.jpg

[jodeg]

I'm not sure, but it looks more overgrown than Kiwi's. She's a big chewer, and also scrapes her beak now and then on a couple of "cement" perches she has. Great shadow pic to show up the beak, by the way!

It's just my opinion, but I think I'd have it trimmed professionally, either by an avian vet or perhaps the breeder you bought her from. If the beak isn't trimmed properly, it can cause all sorts of problems.

Besides, you want Coco to dislike whoever does the trimming, and NOT YOU! When he's handed back to you, he'll see YOU as his savior! lol! ;)

Let us know what you decide to do!

[chapala]

I would suggest an exam by an avian vet. Fatty Liver Disease can cause overgrown beaks, but there are other reasons as well. The fact that he doesn't seem right is all the more reason a vet visit is called for.

Vitamin and calcium supplements can result in toxicities too, and are not recommended unless on the advice of an avian vet.

It does sounds like you have made lots of improvement in his diet, so congratulations on that.
Reta

[Cocomaco]

Thanks for your comments.

Jodeg- that's a good point!! They can get into a strop sometimes can't they, so yes it's probably best if someone else does it.

Chapala- when he was ill, he lost weight and had a sudden onset of ataxia- he went from ok to near death in a few hours. He was at the animal hospital for 4 days, and it was the (avian) vet there who prescribed the supplements. He also had Baytril and Aviboost. I never give him any supplements normally, not even to help with moulting, because I'm terrified of him getting too much of something.
I wondered about fatty liver disease... God I hope it's not that... I think I will aim to get him to the vet this week, to be sure. He didn't have any blood tests done before because he was too ill, so maybe now is the time.

[montgomery2007]

I would suggest an exam by an avian vet. Fatty Liver Disease can cause overgrown beaks, but there are other reasons as well. The fact that he doesn't seem right is all the more reason a vet visit is called for.

Vitamin and calcium supplements can result in toxicities too, and are not recommended unless on the advice of an avian vet.

It does sounds like you have made lots of improvement in his diet, so congratulations on that.
Reta


I'm glad Reta mentioned this, because that is how I discovered that my Montgomery had Liver Disease. I suggest to get him checked as soon as possible. I'm not trying to scare you, but if it was that then the sooner you find out the better their chances.
ERic