Beak Trimming HELP!!

[caiques_lories]

We found a teil. He looks really young, very malnourished. One of his toes is missing, we had to majorly cut his nails, and trim his beak. His breastbone is all you can feel and he is dangerously underweight.

The beak trimming problem is that he has the longest beak I've ever seen. We managed to cut it pretty good, but it's still long and we can't see the kwik. We tried to file it down to a point, but it's not working well. We managed to cut it so he can open his mouth to eat, but the point makes it hard for him to eat seeds. He is now on a powdered stress formula, but doesn't eat much. He likes to nibble at millet. We also tried mushing up zupreem and force feeding him today. What else can we do?

[Lynjupiter]

All I can tell you is you need to get him to a vet. If you can't afford it find one that will let you turn him over, one that does rescues.

What ever you do be really strict about quarantine from the rest of your flock.
Though it could be malnutrition there are a number of problems and diseases that could make the birds nails and beak become overgrown. He obviously comes from very bad circumstances which increases the chance of disease a lot.
Sanatize throughly, change your clothing and shoes after you have been near this bird before interacting with your flock.
Best of luck, I hope he makes it.
Lynda

[caiques_lories]

He is going to the vet, but because of the holiday's our vet couldn't take him till Monday. There was a bird with psittacosis over a year ago in a nearby neighborhood. He died and it freaked all of the birb people around out, so I have been VERY cautious with him. He is separated from my quakers by an entire floor of the house. I never touch the other birds until I have completely changed clothes and everything.

Thanks.

[caiques_lories]

I'm going to call other vets tomorow and see if anyone will take him. We just found him yesterday. He was out in the cold, I can't believe he was alive at all. He was hiding pretty well and I never would have seen him if he hadn't made a weird noise. He has a light on him and he seems to stay as close to it as possible. We put him in a smaller cage to keep him warmer and closer to food and water at all times. He isn't doing well, but at least better than when we found him.

[Lynjupiter]

Sounds like you are doing the right thing. Warmth, nutrients and rest is what he needs until you can get to a vet. Boy is he lucky you found him!

I had to warn you about quarantine. You would not believe the number of people who are totally clueless about birds and diseases.
Good luck!

[Tiki]

Poor little guy, he must be an escaped pet. Did you check the ads to see if anyone is missing a tiel? His condition seems to say that he had a rough time out in the big bad world. Sounds like you are doing your best for him, I am glad you know how to hand feed. I hope he makes it!

[Vankarhi]

yes from what i just read, I would be guessing he is not as young as you think, and that his "slimness" is due to not being able to eat properly because of his beak. An avian vet is in order, and he can trim it properly for you and then tell you his recommendation. I just had an alexandrine with a slightly overgrown beak at 3 months, it was growing crooked. it took the vet 30 mins approximately to anesthesitise him and cut his beak and it is not something I would have been able to do properly. I know I could trim a beak for a minor problem if shown how, but not to the degree of Kumar's beak needed triming. The vet advised me (he was the second opinion of which the first was the same opinion) to give him back to the breeder (and the breeder was with me at the second vet who was an avian vet). It depends on how the beak got to be in that condition as to whether it can heal naturally with a few beak trims to help it along the healing process. In Kumars case his beak was a birth deformity and in the opinion of the avian vet would never heal properly and he would need regular beak trims at great expense. I have a new baby now and she is lovely - the breeder swapped me another bird and I finished raising her for the last 4 weeks.

It sounds like you are doing the right things and I hope he is ok and makes a lovely pet and spends the rest of his life in happiness.

[caiques_lories]

He is doing GREAT! Once his beak was short enough to where he could eat, he began gorging. Now that he satisfied his hunger, he is eating normally and drinking lots of water. He is begining to make an attempt at a whistle every time I walk in the door and is letting me handle him. He is only eating a powder molting and stress formula, but once the vet can properly trim his beak, we'll add more seeds slowly. I really hope this little guy makes it, so far no ads in the paper or at the shelter.

[Tiki]

Oh how great! Looks like you have a new little friend!

[caiques_lories]

well, update. The little guy is doing much better. He is eating regulary, pooping regularly, drinking, and singing. Yes, he is whistling his little heart out. It's music to my ears (esp without the famous quaker scream in the background). But, unfortunately, I got a call today from someone missing a tiel. I don't think this is him, because she mentioned female and this bird looks like a male. I could be wrong though. We'll find out tomorow.