Need Advice about Meyers Beak

[carriephlyons]

Hi,
I am new to parrot keeping...
Yesterday we took in a 14 year old Meyers. Other than drawing blood with her bite yesterday she is awesome... and the bite was my own fault for not understanding her body language I think...

However, on giving her some food today she seems to be struggling with her beak... it is almost like she cannot bite food properly? Is this normal... I am going to link to a picture that shows what I mean.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2 ... =535165958

Any advice would be so helpful!

Oh, one other thing... she needs seems to have had any new toys, or fresh veg etc... should I introduce things slowly or just give it all to her? She seems to sleep a lot so I am thinking maybe she is a little overwhelmed by everything?

[Natacha]

The beak seems a little long but it could be the picture. I would have it checked by an avian vet.

As for offering things..offer toys slowly. Fresh food I would offer daily. How you offer it can be changed.

[Michael]

The beak looks overgrown and you should see a vet. Not a pet store, breeder, or experienced owner but rather a vet. I think the aforementioned people may be experienced at preventative trimming but perhaps not so with overgrown.

Here is a video of how I file my parrot's beak. Once again this is not the answer to your current situation but this is something you may want to do after the situation is taken care of to prevent that from happening again:



It seems like your parrot was neglected because it is not used to toys and was not being cared for (like receiving beak trims). So definitely get it looked at by a vet in case they discover any other problems. Be careful not to overwhelm it with toys and attention and just slowly ease it into your family environment.

To other parrot owners, do you know if the blood line runs deeper into an overgrown beak like that or is it the same as usual?

[carriephlyons]

Thank you so much for the advice!
I am glad to know I am not going mad. She looked really keen on the pellets I gave her, kept holding them, mouthing and licking them and then throwing them on the floor...
Today she took some apple, a couple of grapes, and some spring greens. I will keep offering her different things!

One thing she does seem to LOVE are Cheerios! So... I guess I know what to bribe her with.

My rabbit vet is a bird specialist, so I will take her there first thing on Monday!

Is it normal for a bird to take food and dip it in the water bowl to soften it?

[Michael]

Mine has a water bottle so she can't dip her food like that

I have heard of many birds doing that but I think it depends on upbringing and stuff. Mine was weened onto pellets so she is totally used to pellets and just prefers crunchy foods in general to soft ones. I think it is mostly transitioned birds (birds that are used to eating seeds or other foods and then switched to pellets) that feel the need to soak their food.

I do know that the dry pellets require a lot of water to go with them though. I once measured that for 6 grams of pellets my Senegal Parrot ate, she drank 4 grams of water. How did I know this? I weighed her before feeding and took her water bottle away. I weighed her when she finished eating and figured the difference. Then I gave her water and weighed her again when she finished. So they do need a lot of water to go with the food but it doesn't necessarily have to be dipped in it.

[carriephlyons]

I get the feeling this gal has been largely ignored for a long time... the toys I took out of the cage today were just disgustingly dirty and not parrot safe ( just painted wood).
She is 14 years old... so there is a lot of history we don't know.

One thing for sure though... she hates me! lol! Everytime I go near the cage she lunges at me... and failing that, she turns her back on me. Oh well... she is going to have to get used to it. She is here for good. We believe in forever homes!

[Michael]

Here's what you gotta do:

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=227

But don't expect it to happen overnight. In your case, seriously don't expect it to take less than a few years to be fully able to handle that bird (and that is only if you work frequently, carefully, and train the bird to like you).

[carriephlyons]

That is a fantastic resource. Thank you so much!

Maybe things are not as bad as they seem.... She only got here yesterday. So she is still adjusting I think. She already takes food from my hand! so... I guess I will be getting a clipper.

One last dumb question... our very first interacting was really positive. She put her head down and requested a neck scratch. Which I did... then the next interaction was where she bit me and drew blood... what did I do wrong? ha!

[Michael]

Either:

A) You scratched wrong

or

B) She didn't really want it

[MissLady9902]

Is it normal for a bird to take food and dip it in the water bowl to soften it?

My senegal Noodle dips her pellets in her water and then eats it. If you bird does that you have to be sure to change the water at least twice a day.
I have to change Noodle's twice a day.
Marvin my CAG does not dip his pellets but I change his water when I change Noodle just in case.
Noodle also has a water bottle so she has fresh water all the time.
Marvin wanted nothing to do with the water bottle. We'll try that again later.

Good job on getting a rescue! Good luck!