Beak Scratching....

[RJFitz1]

Our baby, Taco, has recently begun scratching his beak on his perch. He scratches one side, and then the other almost like he is trying to sharpen his beak. Is this normal?

[Azzie]

Taco might be trying to clean his beak of any food scraps that are left on the side.

 

Birds also rub to help keep the beak in good shape. You may notice his beak looks a little flaky, with different layers showing. This is normal, and the rubbing helps get rid of excess flakes.

 

I also read a post by a breeder on a different forum that birds have nerve endings in the ends of their beaks, and rubbing creates a comforting vibration.

 

In any case, it is perfectly normal and you have nothng to worry about = )

[SchroedersJen]

Some greys do this to indicate ownership....kinda like "this perch is mine, stay off of it" They may start doing it to their favorite people around strangers if they are closley bonded.

[danmcq]

As the others have already commented, it is totally normal. :-)

 

It also keeps the beak in a very sharpened state for better body piercings.

[judygram]

Josey as most greys probably are likes having her beak rubbed with my fingers, they must have sensitive beaks.

 

Thats interesting that they would maybe be marking their territory with beak rubbing, I had not heard that one.

[Luvparrots]

My Ana Grey does not like wet/soft foods. She is always wiping her beak after eating to keep it clean. She does like to have me pet her beak but then she just likes to be cuddled.

[dhorje]

My Koko likes to wipe her beak on my wife's shirt after eating. She prefers cloth over her perch.

[Azzie]

Cleo uses my clothes as a wash cloth also. She also likes to clean the inside of her top beak thoroughly by grabbing a bunched up piece of shirt and chewing on that. You can see she is focusing on cleaning the ridged part of her top beak, and this usually results in another hole being chewed in my clothes *sigh*