Cracked Beak in a Society.

BlondeBengalese · Post by **BlondeBengalese** » Mon Sep 14, 2015 12:07 am

I'm still having problems with my Society. I was thinking it could be his cracked beak causing him pain. In the photos...if you follow the crack down to his neck you can see a tan coloration. Maybe infected? He's on a perfect diet. His poops look normal. That's why I can't figure out what's up with him. He will be singing and fine one minute then in his nest for 10-15 minutes then back out sitting on a limb while the others fly around him. They used to all fly around together and take naps at the same exact time. He went into his nest 5 times today. A couple of times his mate went in there with him. He's been eating. I don't know exactly how much though. 2 weeks ago he took antibiotics for a week along with Ronivet 12%. Sorry I don't know how to put my location in. I'm in Texas. Thanks for helping my favorite bird!!

Arama · Post by **Arama** » Mon Sep 14, 2015 1:13 pm

Ouch! That does not look good. That has got to hurt. Hopefully some more experienced members will see this with some advice.

May I ask how it happened? Is it a deformity or was he injured at some point?

Post by **Babs _Owner** » Mon Sep 14, 2015 1:54 pm

Arama

Has he been eating regularly? Until it grows out he may need some softer foods, like mashed boiled egg sprinkled with millet so he doesnt have to tug on the mullet sprig (which might be painful on his beak). Some soft veggies like cucumber too.
If he's singing that has to be a good sign. Poor guy.

Be sure to check the nest for eggs too (which might explain why hes going in there so much)

BlondeBengalese · Post by **BlondeBengalese** » Mon Sep 14, 2015 5:38 pm

I don't know how it happened. Most likely malnourishment from the previous owner. I looked back at my pictures I took on the day I brought him home and it looks like there was some peeling but I could not tell if it was cracked. They get a soft egg meal daily with Lafebers finch diet in it. I'm also going to boil some seed to soften it up. I just hope it's not infected. I don't think he had a cuttlebone from his previous owner. I put one in his cage a month ago when I got him but he hasn't touched it yet. I've been sprinkling cuttlebone over there seed. Also offering fruits and veggies. Thanks for your help! Nope, no eggs!!

Post by **lovezebs** » Mon Sep 14, 2015 8:39 pm

BlondeBengalese

I've never seen anything like it.
I honestly don't know what to think......... wondering if it's possible to actually glue it together somehow, untill it heals.

@MiaCarter, any thoughts on this one?

wildbird · Post by **wildbird** » Mon Sep 14, 2015 10:49 pm

It should correct itself when it grows out. He probably won't use cuttlebone, as he has to peck at it. Try finely crushed boiled egg shells in a separate cup. Also, provide oyster shell and continue giving the good foods you are providing. It doesn't look infected to me. I would leave it alone as long as he is eating and seems healthy.

DanteD716 · Post by **DanteD716** » Tue Sep 15, 2015 2:58 am

At this point there is nothing you can do. Continue doing the normal routine, and it can only heal itself in time as it grows out. Here's a tip on the cuttlebone, putting it on seed is almost pointless, as majority of it falls off while the birds remove the hull of the seed, try powdering it over the egg food, guarantees that they'll eat it all as long as they like the eggs!

MiaCarter · Post by **MiaCarter** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 2:14 am

lovezebs - My first thought was glue too.

The problem with this sort of vertical crack is that it can continue traveling down the length of the beak, into the new growth.
A similar problem can happen with your nails.

My worry is that if he puts any sort of pressure on the front of his beak, it will cause the crack to travel.

I would keep an eye on it at this point. There's a good chance you may not need to do anything.

You could apply some glue to help prevent it from traveling further down the beak. I would use wound glue (it's sold in steri-strip kits at the drug store.) Or you could just use nail glue, which is designed for use on keratin. (I've used nail glue and wound glue and to be honest, they all work the same as krazy glue and all have fumes.)

I would apply a tiny amount right to the area immediately below the crack, near the base of the beak. The objective is to reinforce the healthy beak and prevent the crack from spreading. I would perform the repair with a fan handy to promote fast drying and to blow away any fumes (the fumes are only a problem while it's drying)

I would NOT try to glue the tip of the beak or over the crack, as you risk a situation where the glue seeps into his mouth and he could ingest it or glue his mouth or tongue.

I'm not sure how comfortable you are handling him. If you're uncertain, I would turn to a vet as you can mess up very badly with glue.

Or you could just watch and hope for the best. Photograph weekly to determine if the crack is spreading or growing out. That's how I would proceed for now, before attempting anything with glue or vet visits.

One good way to get cuttle bone powder (just scrape with a knife) and powdered vitamins into him is to sprinkle on foods that they eat whole, like eggs.
Or, spritz coconut oil or olive oil on millet sprays and sprinkle powder on the millet. He'll ingest it as he's working it around in his mouth, removing the hull.

I'd try to limit the number of hard seeds. I might see if you can switch him to tonic seeds (soft hulls) and other soft foods to prevent him from using the beak as a seed cracker. It's the pressure that will cause the crack to spread.
Lots of protein too, as protein is key for beak growth.

Post by **lovezebs** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 2:58 am

BlondeBengalese

I really hope that the suggestions by Mia up above are helpful for you and your little boy. Wishing you both the best of luck. Please keep us updated to any new developments.

@MiaCarter

Thanks for the suggestions Mia.
I have never seen anything quite like this before in a beak. Poor little fellow. This must be very uncomfortable for him.

BlondeBengalese · Post by **BlondeBengalese** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 9:44 am

Thank you all for your help and suggestions. Im new to birding. I've only had him for a month. I'm taking him to a vet today because he is having abnormal poo. One day it's fine then it's not. I'll discuss the beak also. I have been giving him an egg mix with kale, cilantro, Lafeber's Finch diet, ground egg shell, cooked Quinoa and chitted seed. I also starting giving him mashed hard boiled egg. He's been eating a bunch of the soft food. I boiled some of his regular seed yesterday. He didn't like that very much. Once again. Thank you so much!!! And Willis, my 1st love thanks you too! lol

Post by **lovezebs** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 8:13 pm

BlondeBengalese

Good luck, and please keep us updated. I for one am very curious to find out what suggestions the vet will have in regards to your little boy's beak.

MiaCarter · Post by **MiaCarter** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 10:57 pm

BlondeBengalese - I too am curious to hear what the vet finds and recommends.

I know there are a few disease processes that can cause this sort of symptom (including malabsorption-type disorders, which can cause nutritional deficiencies). So the abnormal poop makes me wonder if that's a strong possibility.

Those vertical cracks can be tricky; dealt with a few in the past with my vet. With a couple cases, we took a wait and see and it healed up fine. (combined with supplementation in 1 case, as he was a rescue conure who had obviously had a very poor, all seed diet)
In another couple cases, glued (or trimmed and prepped with a dremel and then glued.)

Good that you can pass off any gluing to the vet. It's tricky, especially if you try to glue the actual fracture, since you risk having the glue travel through the crack and into the mouth.

Let us know how he does!!

BlondeBengalese · Post by **BlondeBengalese** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 12:52 pm

The Vet etched a notch at the bottom of the crack with a Dremmel. He said that will stop it from splitting further. He didn't glue it. He did a blood test and a poop test and everything came out normal. I have heard that sometimes you can't see the diseases. He said his only problem was that he needed a wife. The seasonal changes are causing him to want to mate. I took out his long time male mate a couple of hours ago. I put in what I believe to be 2 society hens so he could pick. He sung to both of them but nothing has happened. All he is doing is sulking, eating and drinking. He's just been on the same branch sitting, crying and missing his mate. I don't know what to do other than wait and watch. Any suggestions? Thanks!

wildbird · Post by **wildbird** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 10:06 pm

I would take out the females and put the male back in.

Zebrafincher · Post by **Zebrafincher** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 10:57 pm

If societies are very social why not put all cour together? That way they can all be happy and communually breed ( if thats what you want). Zebrafincher

FINCHforum

Cracked Beak in a Society.

Cracked Beak in a Society.

Re: Cracked Beak in a Society.

Re: Cracked Beak in a Society.

Re: Cracked Beak in a Society.

Re: Cracked Beak in a Society.

Re: Cracked Beak in a Society.

Re: Cracked Beak in a Society.

Re: Cracked Beak in a Society.

Re: Cracked Beak in a Society.

Re: Cracked Beak in a Society.

Re: Cracked Beak in a Society.

Re: Cracked Beak in a Society.

Re: Cracked Beak in a Society.

Re: Cracked Beak in a Society.

Re: Cracked Beak in a Society.