JustAnswer > Pet
Ask A Question|Register|Login|Help
JustAnswer

Pet

Ask a Pet Question, Get an Answer ASAP!

Have your own Pet question?

14 Vets and Pet Experts are Online Now
characters left:
Not a Pet Question?

Related Pet Topics:

  • Cat
  • ,
  • Dog
  • ,
  • Faq
  • ,
  • Pet
  • ,
  • Vet
  • ,
  • Bird
  • ,
  • Beak
  • ,
  • Cure
  • ,
  • Face
  • ,
  • Male
Bookmark and Share

Question

My parakeet has brown crusting around its beak on both sides. It is a male. What can I do to stop this disease. He has had it for about a month.

Thank you

XXXXXX XXXXXXX

Submitted: 1066 days and 11 hours ago.
Category: Pet
Value: $9
Status: CLOSED
+
Read More

Optional Information

Optional Information:
Age: 2; Male; Breed: Parakeet

Already Tried:
Nothing as yet. Do I need to take it to a vet?

Accepted Answer

Hi Sharon. If it is what I suspect, no there is nothing you can do at home. He will need a trip to a proper Avian vet. What you describe sounds very much like a condition called Scaley Face Mites. But, don't let the word mites send you off to the pet store in search of their over the counter "witches brews". It's not that kind of mite and even if it were, the products they have are in the best case, useless, in the worse case, dangerous. This is not an uncommon thing for Budgies. It can progress to the point their beaks and ceres are in terrible shape. However, as bad as it can look, it is not at all a hard thing to cure. With proper treatment, the turn around can be fast and very dramatic. But you do need to get him in. I'm going to give you a link to more information about this issue. As a just in case, I'm going to add some about basic Budgie diet so you can be sure he is getting the best possible nutrition. If he is eating only seeds or mostly seeds, he is in danger of health issues that are far more serious than this one. I'm also going to give you some links to hopefully help you locate a proper Avian vet. A regular dog/cat vet simply does not usually have the extra extensive training and experience needed to work with birds. I hope this helps you and the little guy but if you have any more questions, just let me know. Patricia

Click here: Scaley Face Mites

Click here: Budgies as Pets - Introduction to Budgerigars and their care

Click here: Budgie World Budgie care - tips on budgie care, toys and diet

Click here: Pet Bird Budgie FAQ

Click here: Budgie Care and Information - Melopsittacus Undulatus

Click here: Find your local Avian Veterinarian

Click here: Avian Veterinarians Recommended by Bird Breeders and Owners http://www.birdsnways.com/articles/abvpvets.htm

Click here: Avian Vet List http://www.parrotparrot.com/avianvets/

Click here: BirdsnWays - Avian Veterinarians - Vets - Vet Services for Pet Parrots & Exotic Birds

Click here: Birds and Exotics Animal Care

Click here: exotic veterinarXXX XXsts - Google Search

Picture
Expert: Patricia
Pos. Feedback: 99.9 %
Accepts: 1542
Answered: 4/15/2007

Parrot Consultant

Published author, free lance bird behaviorist, adviser to the parrots at Sarasota Jungle Gardens.

1066 days and 9 hours ago.

Reply

Reply to Patricia's Post: I have 3 other parakeets in the cage with him. Is this contagious?

Thanks
Sharon

Posted by Patricia 1066 days and 7 hours ago.

Answer

Sharon. Yes it definitely can be spread from bird to bird if I'm right about it. What I would do if it were my birds, would be to talk to the vet first. Of course take the one in that is having the problem and verify that my suspicions are correct. If so, the vet will be the best one to advise you as to any preventative measures, if necessary, for the others. If you are not seeing any visual symptoms on the others, I would probably not haul them all in at once. Get a positive diagnosis then go from there. Let me know if there is anything else I can help you with. Patricia

+
Read More

Related Pet Questions

  • endlers livebearer fry why are they all female
  • My parrot has lesions on one of her claws is ...
  • My bird all of a sudden sits on the bottom of the cage ...
  • a roost is a place where a bird sleeps. Roosting for birds ....
  • I found a small amount of blood in my guinea pigs cage that ...
  • how does it take for parakeets to lay an egg
  • What is the breeding process of the red tail sharks fresh .....
  • why do cockatiels have a feather sticking up on top of ...



Disclaimer: Information in questions, answers, and other posts on this site ("Posts") comes from individual users, not JustAnswer; JustAnswer is not responsible for Posts. Posts are for general information, are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (medical, legal, veterinary, financial, etc.), or to establish a professional-client relationship. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty or representations by JustAnswer regarding the qualifications of Experts. To see what credentials have been verified by a third-party service, please click on the "Verified" symbol in some Experts' profiles. JustAnswer is not intended or designed for EMERGENCY questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals.
Question List | Become an Expert | Terms of Service | Security & Privacy | About Us
© 2003-2010 JustAnswer Corp.