My macaw's upper jaw is stuck and won't move. What should I do?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I recommend separating the injured bird from the other two immediately. Keep in a safe cage in a warm draft free area. Provide food and water and minimize stress and handling once separated. I would recommend taking him to an avian veterinarian to assess the severity of the injury and determine what treatment may be needed. Aav.org can help you find an avian vet in your area if you do not have one.

This may have been due to infection, trauma or poor nutrition. You would need to have the bird examined by an experienced avian veterinarian for a diagnosis. Treatment will depend on that diagnosis. Antibiotics may be needed in addition to a proper diet. In the meantime, keep the bird warm and as stress free as possible. if it is caged with others, house it singly. Offer a quality commercial pelleted diet. you may need to soak or moisten in to make eating easier. Offer small amounts of diced fresh fruits and vegetables as well as foods such as boiled egg, beans and plain pastas. A mineral block and cuttlebone should also be made available.

Thanks for reaching out about Jelly and including photos. First observe to see if she can eat and crack hard things like seeds. Structures internal of the beak can be damaged and these will not likely heal well on their own. It the beak is just bruised, it should be fine. The foot appears bruised also, but if fractured, probably will recommend cage rest as most digits are minimally displaced with a fracture and tend to heal fine, as long as not an open wound. If having difficulty perching, removing perches and allow to stand on fluffy towel on bottom of cage, for several days. If not eating, need to see the vet. Good luck

If he just arrived in your home, then give him a little longer to adjust. These birds tend to be very wary when they are in a new environment and will often take weeks before they are fully themselves. For now, I would give him some space. Usually, when we get a new pet, we are interested in them and give them a lot of attention. This can be very intimidating for a bird, so the more space you can give him, the better. If you can, leave him alone for two hours in a well-lit room. Junk food for parrots are usually fruits, nuts and seeds. They also tend to like cooked oatmeal, rice, lentils and beans. You can have this available along with the formulated pelleted food and see if he eats any of it. Ideally, you want most of his diet to be the pelleted food, because this contains all the nutrients they need. Once he is eating good, start reducing the junk food and increasing the pellets. If he goes a whole day without eating, then you may want to try syringe feeding him, or taking him to a vet to ensure he is OK. I hope that helps and you get him to eat something soon.

If the break is very small and isn't bothersome or painful, you may just want to leave it alone to eventually grow out and heal. Keeping the area clean, dry, and free of debris can help it to heal and prevent infection. If the beak is actively hanging open, the crack is very large, or it becomes painful or is impeding your bird's ability to eat or drink, it will need to be seen by a vet for repair and treatment as it can become infected or impede normal ability. Keeping your bird indoors until the beak starts to heal is best to avoid further injury while your bird is out and about (if he's not kept in a cage during the day.)

Boy, you wouldn't believe how often we see this happen! Birds are so curious and they have such strong little beaks! Having that checked by a vet would be best. However, if there is no damage to the beak- holes, cracked pieces etc and no damage to the soft tissues inside the mouth (sometimes these toys will cut into the soft skin on the inside of the beak), then your little friend should be fine!

It appears that there is a malformation of your bird’s beak. This could be a congenital malformation or due to some type of injury or trauma. If your bird is still eating and drinking normally I would not be too concerned about it. If you think the abnormal beak is affecting feeding, you may want to have her checked out by an avian veterinarian. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.