Articles. News. Information.

Category of Information, News & Articles


The ABCs of Beaks


Beaks, Bills, Face Knives, Beakers - whatever we want to call them, they are an integral part of our Hookbills! So, let's break the beak down into some understandable lessons:

A. Anatomy - What is a beak?
It is not "dead" material, like hair or fingernails - rather, it is a living organ, the tip of which contains a bundle of sensitive nerves. The beak itself consists of keratin (a protein called the ramphotheca) which covers bone (the premaxilla or upper beak and mandible or lower beak). Directly above the beak is the cere, which is the soft skin containing a parrot's nostrils. All parrots use their beak as an extra "hand," for climbing, exploring, tasting, sensing, etc. "Beaking" is a stage of developmental growth, where young parrots learn how to use their beaks for various tasks. It serves in the role of a number of tools, such as knife, hammer, chisel, anvil, can opener, etc., but all the while retaining a high degree of sensitivity.

B. Basics - So what do we do in dealing with our bird's beaks on a daily basis?
Most birds love having their beaks touched and rubbed and it's a great way to bond with your parrot to touch and stroke his beak. It's important to set guidelines on appropriate beak use, using commands like "Gentle" to let your parrot know if he's using too much pressure. There's nothing wrong with letting your parrot "beak" gently and appropriately on your fingers. However, that beak can also be a deadly weapon, so be cautious about letting parrots shoulder perch. If a parrot is over stimulated, it's important to keep him down on your forearm or hand, in order to intervene on any aggressive behavior. I do not belong to the school that says "no beak on skin" - you simply need to set guidelines and pay attention to what's going on.

C. Care - To care for your bird's beak you need a combination of good nutrition and proper toys.
Some beak deformities can occur from improper handfeeding techniques but they can also occur from congenital problems or dietary deficiencies. It's important to catch these problems early in order to correct them. Beak overgrowth can be a problem for parrots who don't have enough chewable perches and toys - it can also indicate problems with protein metabolism, or liver and kidney disease. I advocate cuttlebones, mineral blocks, grooming perches, and a variety of soft and hardwood toys to keep beaks in shape. Beak trimming should rarely be necessary for birds with good diets and lots of toys, but if needed, should consist of only gentle clipping and/or filing. NEVER let anyone use a Dremel tool on your parrot's beak (or nails) the high heat can cause nerve damage. By the same token, never let anyone talk you into beak trimming (or beak notching EVER) as a way to deal with biting. Behavior work can help with constant biting, but don't attempt to deal with it by disabling your parrot's beak.

Parrots use their beaks to eat, climb, play, show affection, and explore. All of this is natural and appropriate. Problems with beaks require help from an avian vet, nutritionist, or behaviorist, so it's important to pay attention to what's going on with your parrot's beak on a regular basis.

-----------------------------------------
Your Parrot Place
Marilu Anderson, Bird Nutrition and Behavior Consultant, (503) 771-BIRD. Marilu is a regular contributor to the Your Parrot Place Newsletter. YourParrotPlace.com - Only the Best for Your Parrot!

Free eBook!
140 pages! A compilation of parrot articles from 2000-2004.
http://www.yourparrotplace.com/ebooks/ypp2004ebook.htm


MORE RESOURCES:

Pet insurance saves cash, but comes with caveats
The Associated Press - 6 hours ago
One way to protect yourself is to buy pet health insurance. It's still not that common. Less than 1 percent of pets are insured in the US, according Petplan ...


Tricked-out Greater Cincinnati dog park will put teeth in Pet Stop ...
Bizjournals.com, NC - 5 hours ago
Pet Stop Fence Systems CEO Bob Slattery hangs with his dogs Blue, left, and Bo. What began as a business-expansion strategy is ending up as a little slice ...


Vets Worry About Pet Health In Ailing Economy
MSNBC - 8 hours ago
But the move has pet docs concerned. Their line of work, just like health care, is typically resistant to recessions. But not this time. ...


The Oregonian - OregonLive.com

Lawmakers vote: No more pets allowed in Oregon Capitol
The Oregonian - OregonLive.com, OR - 6 hours ago
Technically, the Oregon Department of Administrative Services has a no-pets policy covering most state offices. No word yet whether that means Hershey is ...


Olathe family, pets escape fire
Kansas City Star, MO - 14 hours ago
Firefighters say working smoke alarms alerted two Olathe residents to a fire in their home early this morning. According to a release from the Olathe Fire ...


C&G Newspapers

County animal shelter working to get more pets into good homes
C&G Newspapers, MI - 8 hours ago
The shelter has changed its policies and has started working with pet adoption organizations to get more animals off the streets and into good homes. ...
Calaveras animal shelter sees brighter days Stockton Record
County dog licenses now on sale Shelby Township Source Newspapers
Residents criticize animal shelter conditions, administration Gaston Gazette
CharlotteObserver.com
all 5 news articles


County shelter offers free clinic for pets
San Diego Union Tribune, CA - 5 hours ago
Coupons to spay or neuter pets also will be available. Dogs must be kept on leashes, and cats and rabbits must be in carriers. Rabies vaccinations for dogs ...


Most popular and unusual pet names
NECN, MA - 4 hours ago
(NECN) - Today on the Animal Connection, we're talking pet names. The most popular and the most unusual. Vicki Croke is an animal expert, author and host of ...


Chesapeake firefighters rescue pets from burned mobile home
The Virginian-Pilot, VA - 2 hours ago
Steve Johnson the trailer was extensively damaged, and firefighters rescued four pets, a dog and three cats. Firefighters used pet rescue mask to ...


Hotels roll out the red carpet for traveling pets
Philadelphia Business Journal, PA - 10 hours ago
“People are willing to spend money on pets because, in these hard economic times, our pets love us no matter what our economic condition. ...

Pets - Google News

Home | Sitemap
© 2006 eInfoJunction.com Homepage | Web Directory | Article Directory| Bid Directory