my cockatiel has an overgrown beak, what causes this?

Answer 1

not chewing on things to keep it in check. Put come sandpaper in the cage with the proper chews for birds. If this fails you may have your bird's beak trimmed at a vet

Answer 2

As others have suggested, it *may* be caused by a lack of anything to chew on. However, cockatiels are generally not aggressive chewers, and will wear their beaks on harder nuts, their perch, etc. Providing a lava stone, concrete or sand perch or toy is still a great idea.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, an overgrown beak can be caused by several diseases, most notably liver disease and malnutrition. Cockatiels are prone to fatty tumors, and a fatty liver can cause disease which can cause a beak to overgrow. I suggest that you buy the recommended toys (cuttle bone, whatever) and CALL YOUR VET. You might not have to take him in. Just talking to a vet over the phone and describing the symptoms might give you the answer. Then again, your bird might need treatmenr.

Answer 3

We have quakers and conures, but my dad has an illiger's macaw with the same problem. Her beak is overgrown on the side. Our avian vet told him this happens alot!! She said it could have been caused by an injury when the bird was young, to make it grow strange like that. She has a large assortment of toys and perches that are gritty, but this doesn't help. We have to take her to the vet to get it trimmed. It grows back pretty fast though, just like feathers, so you have to keep doing it. Good- luck, I hope this helped you!!

Answer 4

You need to put a cuttle bone in his cage. If you already have one, go to the petstore and ask for alternative items that you can put in its cage to trim back his beak. IF given the right tools your cockatiel will naturally use them to keep its beak in check.

If all else fails a vet can trim back its beak but this is not needed very often if you supply your bird with the right equipment

Answer 5

it is caused by lack of proper grit paper or a grinding perch for the bird to rub its beak on. They will naturally take care of this IF we give them the proper tools. I would NOT try to clip it now as it could split. I would use an emory board and make it like a toy or game sliding the emory board gently to file it down a bit each day. I now use a battery operated nail file on my macaw and she kinda gets pissy a bit but with the cockatiel, I woulod stick with an emory board and get her a concrete/sand perch

Answer 6

In the wild, birds encounter a lot of natural grits which wears their beaks down as fast as it grows. But as pets, most of what they eat is much softer, and their beaks continue to grow with out wearing down. Periodically, their beaks need to be sanded or cut down by someone who knows what they're doing.

Answer 7

I second Amy X.

An overgrown beak can be a sign of sickness. Please take your bird to an AVIAN vet as soon as possible.

Answer 8

He is not using it enough. He needs to go to a vet. They will shave it down. I suggest you use a cuttle bone after that is done.



Hope this helps,
Cockatiel Expert

Answer 9

well, they need a cuddle bone , ,they're beak is like our finger nails, they always are growing. a cuddle bone acts like a nail file-er, its also loaded with nutrients so ur bird will be healthier, and they come in all sorts of different flavors, like coconut, bananna, ect...

Answer 10

lack of things for hin to scracth his beek on buy him a cuttle fish(from pet shop) or in the short term put some sand paper on the bottom of his cage or glue some on to his perch beeks never stop growing