i didnt realize what a cuddle bone was needed for, so i didnt have one for about a year. my birds beak is extremely long and touches the bottom of his neck. hes a budgie and its about 2cm around the curve. i got him a cuttle bone but he dopesnt know what it is and wont use it, even though i try to teach him how to. how can i get him to eat his cuttle bone. is there another non surgical way to shorten his beak? should i try a flavored cuttle bone? HELP! thanks. xoxox <3
2007-07-23 14:25:43 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Birds
I'll probably get people who will disagree with this,but truthfully you can do this yourself- when this happened to my parakeet I just trimmed her beak with a good sharp pair of nail clippers- no harm came to her, and she lived another 6 years-I just snipped the tip, and she started to use her cuttle bone immediately afterwards-we never had the problem again.
2007-07-23 15:04:06 · answer #1 · answered by Dotis 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok look you need to get the bird to the vet so the vet can try and trim its beak. Please do not try to do this your self because you will not have the proper tools and will probably crack the bird's beak and then it is basically done for. Once the beak is trimmed enough for the bird to open its mouth properly it will figure out what to do with the cuttle bone. Keep this in the bird cage and also get a sandpaper cover for at least part of the bar perch in the cage so that the bird can keep its claws trimmed. They will keep growing like the beak and eventually the bird will not be able to sit on a perch or to walk properly and the beak will continue to grow until it curves up into the bird's throat, killing it. You need to get a book or go on line or talk to a vet so that you can learn the proper care of your pet so it can be your friend for a long time to come.
2007-07-23 22:38:21 · answer #2 · answered by digimutt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please do not attemt to file your birds beak yourself. You can seriously damage the beak and hurt the bird.
A vet can file your birds beak down If it is so long that the bird does not eat. A mineral block and a cuttle bone any flavor will do and give the bird one of those seed treats on a stick every week until the beak wears down. You may need to place two seed sticks in his cage ( different kinds) to encourage play and wearing down of the beak.
Bubba
2007-07-23 21:40:17 · answer #3 · answered by bubba 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh hunny! You need to get him to the vet so he can trim it. Eventually his beak will interfere with his eating. After the vet trims it continue to put cuttle bone and perch covers or if you can find the cement perches for budgies in his cage. He knows what to do but with a beak that long it doesn't really work. Best of luck to you.
2007-07-23 21:33:43 · answer #4 · answered by Lisa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get the bird to a vet who knows birds, my female just never got into the habit of using the cuttle bone and I took her to a local vet but she squirmed and got a bleeder. Her brother attacked her all night and I had to put him i a time out cage. Her beak grew back to almost that length but she eats ok and has lived two years since that. My birds have a vegetable bone treat and a pineapple but don't use them alot.
2007-07-24 01:36:37 · answer #5 · answered by Princessa Macha Venial 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a cuttle bone. There are other things to keep their beak trimmed too. Just look at the pet store. Good luck!
2007-07-23 22:17:08 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simple this happened with my wife's parakeet. Go to the vet and have them file it down. Since it seems to be the first time, I don't recommend doing it yourself, but the vet may tell you that you could have. Better to see them do it first, though. P.S. -- my wife says definitely get a flavored cuttle bone.
This is not a surgical procedure -- should take about 5 minutes and cost less than $50 -- ours cost that much but he did a complete checkup while we were in.
2007-07-23 21:32:13 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to get him to the vet they will trim it down for you then put in cement perches toys that have cement items in them and blocks to chew on.. If the beak is that overgrown you obviously haven't had him to the vet while your there get a well bird check up it doesn't take very long and you will have done what you should have done over a year ago.. Good luck
2007-07-23 23:28:32 · answer #8 · answered by terraist 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the vet could probably file it down to proper size. Try averiety of cuttle bones.
2007-07-23 23:06:22 · answer #9 · answered by Carrots and bunnies 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in short take your budgie to an avian vet. Who can reduce it for you, your budgie also then needs chew toys afterwards that he/she can chew this will help wear the beak down.
2007-07-23 21:57:35 · answer #10 · answered by bl_fkt 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋