My budgie chicks have crusty, rounded beaks. Do they need a vet?

Hello! As long as it is just a little overgrown and she can still eat well (can tell by having the brown or green part of the poop present as they can pretend to eat) there is not a rush to get into the vet. It will need to be clipped and shaped if it gets really long though. Sometimes this can happen if a bird is eating only seeds so try to see if Turtle can be convinced to eat a pelleted diet by pretending to eat it yourself often around her and some patience.

Some crusting can happen when a bird is ready to mate, but that looks a bit more than that -- It is possible your bird has a respiratory issue going on, a fungal infection taking hold in the nostrils, or another type of infection/illness. It would be best to bring him to a vet to have the area flushed out and treatment started for any underlying infection. Separating him to a hospital cage that is kept warm and with easy access to food and water may also help to prevent the spread of any illness and to keep Ocean comfortable if your other parakeet is picking on him until you can be seen by your vet. You can also use a warm washcloth to try and remove any debris to make him more comfortable.

Angel is beautiful, thankfully his cere looks a nice healthy colour. It is not uncommon for the beak to flake a little depending what part of the keratin cycle he is in . As for the crusts, these are most commonly due to a little mite that borrows under the skin. Known as scaly beak, it is caused by knemedicoptes mites. To treat it you need an ivermectin based drop, many vets stock a product called xeno which you apply to the skin. I would weigh him to ensure appropriate dosing. If you are concerned he seems dull or symptoms are worsening you should take him to an avian vet.

Some infections such as fungal infections can cause flaky growths around the beak or nose. Growths on the skin from infection, tumors, parasites, etc may also cause a dirty growth appearance anywhere on the body. Regurgitation of food may also cause stuck debris, as well as problems with the crop causing food or bacterial to come back up into the mouth. If it's impeding Chico, can't be cleaned away (or returns even with cleaning) or you are seeing other signs of illness such as changes in energy levels, behavioral habits, eating and drinking habits, etc, then having a vet look at it in person is best. They may need to flush the area and clean it and start Chico on a round of medication to treat as needed.

Hello, You're correct in that Rocky's beak is very abnormal appearing. I worry the crusting on the ceres (the part above the beak) could be due to mites, a nutritional deficiency, or a respiratory infection. The beak's lopsided appearance could be due to liver or nutritional disease. I recommend taking Rocky to his veterinarian. They can best guide you after a physical exam. I hope this is helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for your question, and thank you for the photo! When we see crusting around the nostrils and on the cere, it can be due to excess keratin/hyperkeratosis, or it may be actual material on the skin itself. If it is excess keratin, often suboptimal nutrition is the culprit. The most common nutrient that is involved in this is a deficiency in vitamin A. If it is material on the skin itself, this is often related to an infectious process, sort of like a runny nose with a cold. Due to this, I would recommend having Kiwi evaluated by a veterinarian. They can perform a physical examination and see if there are any other signs of vitamin deficiencies, and to see if there are any signs consistent with infection. Depending on the findings, they will recommend diagnostic testing and/or treatments that you can elect to pursue. Diets that are mainly seeds are often the culprit for a lack of vitamin A, and by adding pellets or vegetables into the diet this can be addressed. I hope that this gives you a place to start, and I hope that Kiwi feels better soon!

Although a picture would help to determine the underlying cause of it, that is likely to be due to a mild to moderate conjunctivitis, probably secondary to an infection. A check up would be needed as appropriate treatment would include antibiotics and anti-inflammatory eye drops. Corneal injuries must be ruled out as well. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.