Lovebird Care: Major Beak Trim for Lovebird Calmed without Drugs

[Turkforlife123]

do they feel pain from there beaks

[DoctorRossPerry]

@Turkforlife123 It is similar to trimming nails and claws, The beaks are sensitive obviously for manipulating seeds and food etc. The beaks have bone with blood vessels and nerves and a network of these around the bone under the hard keratin. You can cut, file, dremel nails and beaks without causing pain. If you cut or grind or split too far then acute pain can result.

[Cocoa2338]

My lovebird bites me, shes very nice and doesn't usually bite us but when she does it really hurts! Do you have any idea why? Or how to stop this?

[DoctorRossPerry]

@Cocoa2338 Usually hormonal and aspect of Randy Bird Syndrome. Get my book "Caring for Birds with Love" eg via GoldCoastBirdVet dot Weebly dot com and consider exploring Australian Bush Flower Essences and also essential oils for calming and chamomille tea for her to drink. Dr Ross Perry

[123codfan]

Dr I need help my cockatoo has a long beak and I don't know what to do my bird has been trying to get rid of it by smashing it along the cage and I don't want to give it to the vet because he hates strangers and it would traumatise him plus he doesnt like objects that he's not familiar with near his face

[DoctorRossPerry]

@123codfan If you are prepared to value my time and help by paying $50 and provide me with clear macrophotographs at different angles of your cockatoo, especially his beak, crest and powder downs just over his hips, we can have a remote face to face consultation to explore my advice as to what can and needs to be done. Join my bird health matters fb fan page Dr Ross Perry Bird Vet via top line of my fb profile Ross Perry & upload photos questions contact details etc

[123codfan]

@DoctorRossPerry we have cut down abit of his beak but he still has that weird hair loss problem on the top of his forehead and the bottom part of the beak is abit long

[MegaCubanito2002]

wouldve been better to sand it of

[thebettafish1]

My lovebird's beak is kind of getting big not like this, but just over the normal size. What would be the best chewing solution for it.

[DoctorRossPerry]

@thebettafish1 natural branches with bark, soft wood, sandstone, perhaps seashells,

[thebettafish1]

@DoctorRossPerry Is a cuddle-bone appropriate for the beack? Or a concrete perch? 

[DoctorRossPerry]

@thebettafish1 Cuttlebone is ok, but is soft and won't keep the beak short. Concrete perches are not suitable for live birds, perhaps stuffed ones (sore feet etc).

[CJBountyHunter]

Why did u let it grow that much? That is nasty pet owning, Dr.

[DoctorRossPerry]

@CJBountyHunter It is not for me to judge my clients unless their activity is illegal, my job is to help them, to educate them. It is better that they come to me, albeit eventually, sometimes, and get professional help, and I am posting videos like this to show things can be done to help.

[Illchangeitlater]

Hm, I think you need a bigger clipper though. Not to cut faster, but just zo you don't have to use so much pressure. I'm a proffesional pedicurist and I need to "nibble" at giant toenails too and the bigger the handels of the clipper the easier it goes!

[DoctorRossPerry]

@Illchangeitlater Synchronicity. I trimmed the beaks of these two lovebirds again yesterday... I had my little nail clippers confiscated at airport en route to David Cavanagh's workshop in Pattaya 2 weeks ago and hadn't replaced them.. used a pair of sharp wire cutters.. improvise when have to... they worked for me very well. Tx.

[DoctorRossPerry]

There are many different causes of Scissor bill. Your African Grey is likely to need regular beak trimming by an avian vet until you have learnt to shape the beaks yourself. To correct the underlying malalignment of the jaw your bird is likely to need a tension splint or prosthesis attached to realign the beaks towards normal. Do you live in Australia? Is one nostril blocked, Has your bird been tested for PBFDcircovirusdotcom?

[Khushi963]

hi

my African grey got scissors beak can somebody suggest a suitable solution

[DoctorRossPerry]

thanks Happyinlove97! The art of calming and hopefully reducing pain sensitivity by intent is not yet taught to vets at Uni yet is a skill worth acquiring in my opinion.I have started writing a textbook on caring for lovebirds but it might be a year before it is ready for publishing. We'll see!

[happyinlove97]

Thanks. That's a very informative video. I know it helped a couple of little birds that were an unplanned rescue. I hope to never need that procedure for my birds, but it's good to know that it isn't too terrible on birds if done properly.

[DoctorRossPerry]

Yes, that sometimes helps but not usually if the birds have PBFD. The birds do have some rocks. however I will try some smooth ones as you suggest and see what happens. They also have lots of branches etc to bite. Many lovebirds with PBFDrecover over 1-2 moults, including beak deformities, with just good nutrition. However some like these have the disease for years. Ross

[jacee8888]

ello! ahm, i used to have a couple of lutino fischer sometime in 2008 i think, and both have grown their beaks to that long as shown in this video, what i did is i got some rocks i prefer smooth rock like as big as soap or bit less and some broken clay pot, and lots of woods to chew put inside their cage..& guess what, after a day or two their long beaks was trimmed by theirselves..thanks for the rorck and some pieces of broken clay pot.. hope this help a bit... ciao! xD

[DoctorRossPerry]

You can watch at least 2 more video clips on calming by intent on dot com websites budgiehealth and there might be another on cockatielshealth and wildbirdhealth All these websites and more are in early days of construction and adding content and refinements just as quickly as I can. Did you find the video helpful? Dr Ross Perry

[PattiInOz]

Could you please elaborate on calmong birds by "intent and practice"?