Beak Health

[lyderbug]

Hi all.

It appears that the beak of one of my society finches is deteriorating. The beak is usually a nice dark brown color. Today I noticed that the top portion of her beak looks as though the first layer is chipped off and it is reddish pink.

I've never noticed this before. Is this possibly a calcium deficiency? I give them a ton of calcium because they are egg laying machines. I remove probably a dozen eggs every five or six days from the four females Especially Sarah (she has the beak issue). Sarah is almost always laying eggs. Very, very fertile ahahah.

(There is no longer a male present so the eggs are not fertilized. )

Any thoughts? Is this normal and I never noticed it before? I usually give them a well rounded diet with egg, a variety of greens and seed. Maybe I need to add more of something or take something away?

Thanks

[cindy]

Do you give her any calcium like ground mineral block, cuttlebone and oyster shell? I use a fine grater, mix it all together and offer it daily, the females always seem to dive into it first.

[lyderbug]

Wow that was fast.

There is a cuttle bone in the cage. Come to think of it, she doesn't really touch it, the other ladies do. I'll have to grind it up into their food.

Is that why her beak looks not so great?

[L in Ontario]

If you can possibly get and post a pic or two of her beak that would help too.

[cindy]

Wow that was fast.

There is a cuttle bone in the cage. Come to think of it, she doesn't really touch it, the other ladies do. I'll have to grind it up into their food.

Is that why her beak looks not so great?

Offer it in a cup away from the food and add oyster shell. I also got a flavored mineral block (they like the pineapple banana one) and grate that to. Mix the three together, all my bird like it but the females all go to it first thing before their food every morning.

[lyderbug]

Thank you much.

I tried to get a picture but my camera is focusing on the bars of the cage and not Sarah.

I'll try again later.