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Post by andruec on Sept 17, 2008 16:44:43 GMT
It's been a long time since I posted but I've been busy and Beekle can't type. For those that remember us he's doing well and has expanded his vocabulary a bit.  The main reason I'm writing is to ask about beak trimming. Beekle is around five years old now and the last couple of months I've become aware that his beak is a bit on the long side. The tip of it now brushes his neck feathers about half way down when he's relaxed which seems a bit excessive. I don't think the growth is sudden - it just seems that over the past year he's decided to let it grow a bit. I've seen him chew at his cage bar and his plastic porch now and again over the years so I think he knows how to trim it. That leaves me with a quandrary. I don't want to take him to the vet to get it trimmed if he's happy with its length but I also don't want him scratching or stabbing himself if it gets too long. I've also read that if you trim it you can encourage it to grow which seems like a bad idea. Is it possible that he just likes a long beak or is it time to take him to a vet for a second opinion? |
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Post by george on Sept 17, 2008 16:49:52 GMT
As long as he's not having any problems eating and drinking and he seems comfortable with it, I'd leave it. I have to trim my conures beak as the bottom overlaps the top, she's handreared so she's not too much of a pain but if your Beekle isn't handreared, it would just stress him out. I'd say if it's not broken, don't fix it!! If you're really worried, you could always take him to the vets and get them just to have a look at it. They'd probably be able to tell you why it's growing oddly too which would be useful to know!
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Post by andruec on Sept 17, 2008 16:57:36 GMT
As long as he's not having any problems eating and drinking and he seems comfortable with it, I'd leave it. I have to trim my conures beak as the bottom overlaps the top, she's handreared so she's not too much of a pain but if your Beekle isn't handreared, it would just stress him out. I think he'd be okay with it. Early this year he got a minor cut on one foot (no idea where from) and I took him to the vet. The vet just reached in and grabbed him. He waved his feet around a bit and tried to nibble her fingers but not seriously. After she put him back in his cage he just shook himself and started preening. But as you say - if he's happy then why bother. I assume that somewhere in his bird brain he knows how to do that. He now has a block of lava to go with his cuttlefish and iodine block so he's got lots of opportunity. Maybe beaks are just being worn long this year in Brackley  We've tried asking him but what can you make of "Ploppy bottom Beekle, bicycle pizza!". The cosest he comes to a sensible answer is "Squeak face" which doesn't really help  |
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Post by Berserka on Sept 17, 2008 22:05:40 GMT
LOL!
Some birds get lazy too with keeping their beaks trimmed.
If it gets to the stage where he yawns and you can't see into his mouth then you might want to get a pair of clippers and nips a couple of mm's off the tip.
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Post by kiwi on Sept 17, 2008 22:19:11 GMT
LOL He sounds adorable - would love to see some pictures when you get a minute  |
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Post by Scully on Sept 18, 2008 1:02:08 GMT
Hi Andrew, i had my Hahns beak trimmed by my vet, i was so amazed how quickly it grew back, and it was a waste of time really. Sometimes i will take the very tip off my Kaks beaks just to blunt them. If little 'Beak'le is happy why worry ;D and i agree with Kiwi, we have not seen any Beeckle pics in a while  |
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Post by george on Sept 18, 2008 12:25:50 GMT
Scully's right, it would grow back really quickly after trimming anyway. I have to trim Ivy's because it causes her problems with eating and drinking though  Trimming the very tip off might be a good idea if it's sharp though, it's possible he hurt his foot himself with his beak whilst preening or something??! |
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Post by andruec on Sept 18, 2008 19:01:26 GMT
Scully's right, it would grow back really quickly after trimming anyway. I have to trim Ivy's because it causes her problems with eating and drinking though Trimming the very tip off might be a good idea if it's sharp though, it's possible he hurt his foot himself with his beak whilst preening or something??! It's possible I suppose but I don't know. I never saw it bleed and it healed fairly quickly. You can find some old videos of Beekle on YouTube if you search for them.  |
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Post by kiwi on Sept 18, 2008 22:13:10 GMT
Beekle is one handsome dude |
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Post by andruec on Sept 19, 2008 11:08:10 GMT
Beekle is one handsome dude Thank you  That was in his short beak phase though. This summer he's wearing it a bit longer  |
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Post by andruec on Nov 17, 2008 15:07:19 GMT
I took Beekle to have his beak trimmed eventually. Rather ironically (cheeky more like) he actually broke some of it off clambering around his cage on the drive to the vet.
I wasn't very impressed with the vet though. He was supposed to be an avian vet but his method for getting Beekle out of his cage was:
a)Remove bottom (the cage, not Beekle's)
b)Tip cage on side.
c)Reach in.
d)Grab towel.
e)Chase Beekle to book shelf.
f)Chase Beekle to floor.
g)Grab Beekle.
He also used scissors to cut the beak when I'd have preferred clippers.
Thankfully Beekle seemed largely uninterested in the experience. Unfortunately I'm detecting a little beak growth so I think this might become a regular occurence every couple of months. I'm very tempted to do it myself next time though. I don't think he'll suddenly hate me for it.
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Post by Scully on Nov 17, 2008 19:50:28 GMT
Sissors can cause splits, Nail clippers are better. The best way is to grind or file the end down, but with a small bird is not easy
Poor Beekle, fancy being chased round the vets room ;D
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Post by Berserka on Nov 18, 2008 3:28:19 GMT
Yes, clippers are better. I actually use a pair of dog nail clippers when I need to. Cost about a third the cost of the bird ones I bought (which rusted within 6 months!).
The vet sounds pretty inept! Really you just need to every 3-4 weeks snip the last 2mm off so it's comfortable for him.
I had one male I did it to regularly - his was caused by his mum biting it when he was in the nest, the vet said it wouldn't affect him but to keep it trimmed.
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Post by andruec on Nov 19, 2008 20:20:10 GMT
I'm definitely considering doing it myself. I don't have any concerns about the 'operation' but I don't want Beekle to stop trusting my hands. Over the last few months he's become increasingly friendly. He can be quite a trial when I'm trying to type on the laptop and he starts playing with my fingers.
I'd much prefer it if he could start using the lava block or cuttle fish bone to trim his own beak but he just doesn't seem to care.
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Post by skyfeather on Nov 20, 2008 4:06:03 GMT
Beak trimming could be hard to do yourself....here is a link to some info about beaks and trimming etc. You might find this helpful. Nothing like being assigned homework...hehe! CLICK(you will have to copy and paste as this url is too long just to click on I guess)  |
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Trimming the very tip off might be a good idea if it's sharp though, it's possible he hurt his foot himself with his beak whilst preening or something??!
