Crooked beak

[PapillonDeNuit]

Salut tout monde ! I've noticed in the past week or two that my Timmy's beak is crooked. That is, the lower part sits to the left of his upper beak. Is this normal? Should I be concerned? Could it lead to anything down the road?

[Greytness]

Does he gnaw on wood toys? That would help.

Some birds require beak trims, best performed by your avian vet. The vet might want to look at his diet and draw some labs to make certain that the beak growth isn't due to liver disease.

Is Timmy on primarily a veggie diet with some fruit, nuts pellets and seeds? All seed diets can contribute to beak growth issues over time.

[neoow]

I've had this problem with Alfie previously and have had to take him to the vet a handful of times to get it trimmed/filed back so it can grow straight again. I keep a very close eye on it and if one side looks to be growing out again I take him back to the vet. Alfie has got better at keeping it in check himself so it's usually a good few years between vet visits. I reckon he's been three or four times over the years.

Definitely worth getting it checked out by a vet and trimmed back if it's starting to get bad. Depending how crooked it gets it could impair his ability to eat, drink and move around (as they use their beaks like a third hand for climbing!)

The first vet I took Alfie too many years back gassed him for the procedure. The vet I take him to now doesn't use gas, he just towells him and gets on with it. He said he uses a water drill, so Alfie gets a little soggy during the procedure. He is then allowed to fly to the nearest veterinary nurse to get away from the big mean vet before going back in his travel cage. 😂 Alfie reacted badly to the gas and was out of it for a good few hours and threw up - so I never wanted to put him through that again unless he was critically ill and there was no other option. Thankfully I found a better vet!

[PapillonDeNuit]

My stepdad braved Timmy's wrath and checked around Timmy's beak with his finger. A couple years back, Timmy broke his mandible. He was hospitalized while a prosthetic was fashioned. Now it appears Timmy has something similar, but not as bad. I don't know, though! But my stepdad's one of those men who thinks he can never be wrong.

I'd really like to get Timmy's beak trimmed back while it heals!

[Timbersmom]

I'd get Timmy in to see the vet if you are concerned.

[neoow]

Seconded- probably best to get him to an avian vet to get it checked out. 😊

[PapillonDeNuit]

Salut tout le monde !

Three or four weeks ago my stepdad took Timmy to the vet. It turns out all he needed was his beak trimmed! And dig this: he didn't even have to be drugged! (neither Timmy nor my stepdad) The vet thought for sure that Timmy would have to be sedated in order to spend forty-five minutes filing his beak, but no! The Little Guy was so well-behaved!

Also, a bonus for me is that Timmy isn't biting nearly as hard - or at all, really!

[Timbersmom]

That's great! Glad Timmy handled it well (and stepdad) and that the question of the crooked beak is answered.

[neoow]

That's great news, glad the issue is sorted!