I have just been down to check on my Princess Parrot chicks after having been away for the weekend and have discovered two of them have hardly any top beak, a bit like a hair lip on a human! Has anyone seen this problem before and what should I do? Can a moderator please change my heading to Princess Parrot instead of cockatiel?? Thanks!!

What they should look like

 

 

Edited November 30, 200816 yr by jenene283

Oh my, that is unusual. I've had a budgie born once with a top beak like that which had snapped off, but luckily over time with plenty of food and supplements it grew it back to normal without a problem. I have no doubts your chicks will grow it back out, but you'll have to keep it from becoming underbitten ...

 

P.s. I changed your topic title for you.

Edited November 30, 200816 yr by *libby*

So do you think the parents might have done this to them? I have some Calcivet drops I thought I might add to their handrearing mix as I thought it might help the beak grow back?

Thanks for fixing the heading!

Edited November 30, 200816 yr by jenene283

No, the parent's don't necessarily have to of done it to them. I know in the case of my budgie it did it all on it's own. The beak narrowed at a point and then over the coming time it snapped off. The parents could quite possibly have done it, but it'd be an unusual thing to do, generally if they're going to rip the beak off they'll take the whole top mandible, not just the tip. I'd be watching they're getting fed and adding extra multi vitamins and minerals to their greens as well as plenty of calcium straight to the chicks. it may be a deformaty to of occured in two chicks... but i can't guarantee that, many things could've happened but I'm pretty positive with good care and the right incoming food it should heal presuming the parents aren't at fault and if they were that they won't do it again

I have removed all the chicks from the nest and am handrearing them as they stopped feeding the last clutch at two weeks of age and they all starved to death except for one. I will add some multivitamins and calcium to their feed.

What a terrible disappointment Jenene But terrific that you are able to handrear them. I have all my hopes for their ongoing recovery in your capable hands :angel1:

Excellent soloution before anymore problems arise Jenene You're and angel to take on that burden with all the bubs you're already hand rearing

I just hope they are okay, I would be devastated if they didnt survive. This is the very first time I have had a deformity in my birds' beaks so it was quite a shock when I found it. I have my fingers crossed the extra vitamins and calcium will help.

I have my fingers crossed for you also

I think you'll do fine, you're clearly an excellent hand rearer and very experienced

Thanks Kaz and Libby - Im not so sure I can fix this problem though, I hope so!

Weird I hope it all goes well and they make a full recovery! Good luck mate :laughter:

How are they doing, Jenene ?

How are they doing, Jenene ?

So far so good Kaz! They are eating well and growing at a rate of knots. My worry is if their beaks dont grow back how are they are they going to eat after they are weaned?

Fingers crossed for 'good beak growth'!!

It could have been a bacterial thing that has caused it kind of a rot to the tip?

 

and as for your question, if they dont grow back you probably know the answer to that yourself unfortunately.

Well I have persevered with the two Princesses but it doesnt seem like their beaks are going to ever grow. I have spoken to an avian vet and he said they most likely never be able to eat on their own. I dont want to think of what needs to be done but I have no other choice. :star:

It depends how bad they are Jenene, it would take a fair while for them to grow back. They would potentially be able to eat on their own if was a soft food though, have you got an updated photos? In the first ones it looked as thought there was a scab on the tip of the beaks which would tend to indicate an injury, the should recover from an injury but it might take a while.

You never know, they may grow.

We support you in whatever decision you make as you know what is best for your birds.

I personally, would keep them going for a little longer, but I don't see them everyday or know them or know if they are suffering.

Hugs, it's a tough one, you know what is right for you and the babies.

 

Yea, I agree with MB. Don't beaks grow at the rate of fingernails?

Edited December 8, 200816 yr by Sailorwolf

Here are some photos of them today

 

 

They look like they have healed up.

The first one I think has a pretty good chance of survival as its top beak meets with its bottom beak, so it should be able to pick up food.

The little fella on the bottom doesn't look as good, but he still has a chance.

We have old battery hens that haave been debeaked and they do really well.

Having just recently had to have a princess youngster put to sleep due to smashed beak, I know your feelings. In my case the vet urged me to have the bird euthenased as he presented all the scenarios for and against. It kind of took the decision away from me.

You have to do whats best...for them and for you.

I agree that the one in the top photo has a better chance. But is it possible they can feed themselves in the future from a dish of soft food ?

Edited December 8, 200816 yr by KAZ

Bugger mate, its up to you if you want to persevere for a bit longer to see if they will grow, otherwise either put down or have to make up softfood for them 3 times a day, they will be time consuming if you wish to keep and not an option I would choose (harsh as it sounds)

Stock owners are stock losers and these are things we must deal with when owning pets

It's a tough one. Lets us know how you get on.

I have made the heart-breaking decision and they are now in Parrot Heaven :angel1: I have agonised over it ever since I discovered their predicament. After speaking with the avian vet who has come across this before he didnt give them any hope of being able to feed themselves once they were weaned. I wanted to "wait and see" as I thought there might have been a tiny chance they would grow their beaks back but the chances of that were zero apparently.

Awww, biggest hugs luv. So hard to decide upon something like this.

Hugs. It's a tough decision to make, but it's good that you made it.