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Anyone have experience with a brittle beak? Since we got Casper, it looks like she has a crack in her beak running left to right down towards the tip. No opening or anything, just really a line across. When the vet filed her beak, it looked better, but it is back. Is it just something on the surface?

Also, her bottom beak is a little brittle around the edges. Is there something she is missing in her diet or something we should do?

I have never seen anything break off or it doesn't seem like there are any problems. I just wanted to know if it is normal, if it should be really smooth, or what?

My vet didn't mention anything the last time I saw her.

sorry i cannot help you. i have not had this with mine.

Bubba has a flaky beak at the bottom of his top beak section (very descriptive... lol) the vet didn't say it was a problem.

-Jackie

Lisa,

I don't think it's anything to be concerned with. Almost all of my kids have a "flakey" looking beak, and I think it comes from the fact that their beaks are much like our fingernails or equivalent, and as such, it is growing to replace the worn off areas. I've never noticed anyone having a problem, and Smokey, at 7 y.o., probably has the worst looking in that respect. As long as their diet is OK, and Casper's beak does not overgrow, I'd not worry.

I was hoping you guys would say that. I do keep a good eye on it and she doesn't have a problem eating, that's for sure!

Thanks. I will probably be taking her again for her nails soon so I will just have the vet look at her again.

Princess, my IRN had that same look when I purchased her. With her beak being so much bigger and red it was really easy to see.

When I finally got her switched to a pelleted diet it started to improve. After about a year on good, healthy foods it has gone away.

Tweety, my oldest cockatiel, has that look from time to time. It looks very similar to when my nails split and peel. As long as she doesn't act like she is in pain I wouldn't worry. Beaks are very sensitive and I'm sure you will know if something goes wrong there!

Speaking of beaks, have you ever put your birdie's beak to your face or lips and found it to be of different temperature at different times? I had Ginger nuzzling my face earlier, and when she first started, her beak was like an ice cube. A few seconds later, it was much warmer than my face. Same thing with feet. One minute you can feel they are cold, and the next, you feel like you've got branding irons on you ! Shame us people couldn't make our extremities behave in such fashion I can think of lots of men who complain about their wives cold feet ... hmmmm..