Physical Need for Beak Activates

To maintain its shape the beak wears on the inside, outside and at the tip. In the normal eating process, food is picked up, held, rotated, and broken into pieces by grinding and crushing. These activities wear at the edges and inside layers of the beak. A certain amount of friction takes place from direct grinding between the tip of the lower beak and the inside of the upper beak. The outside surface and tip wear off from rubbing and abrasion when manipulating wood or other hard objects.

The interaction of the upper and lower beaks help keep the length normal. The lower beak wears off the upper beak, and at the same time, is being worn down. Anything that interferes with normal beak and mouth activity allows for overgrowth of beaks.

The Power of a Parrot's Beak
An average size parrot will take a rib-bone, chip away at it until he uncovers the marrow, and then eat it. They can take nuts and crack the shell with relative ease and eat the meat out of the center. Folks who have housed their bird in a not-too-well-constructed cage have witnessed a parrot bending bars, removing the clips that hinge the doors, and breaking the welds. Perches made from pine are easily split and are a toy for as short a time as 24 hours. These birds are not to be discouraged from chewing. But in fact, should be supplied with bones, branches from trees, pieces of wood upon which they can exercise and wear down the beak in a normal manner, in the way nature prescribed.

Beware of Overgrown Beaks
An overgrown beak may be a warning sign that the bird's vitality has decreased due to an illness. Some of the hardest diseases to recognize are those which gradually develop, and the main sign of a problem is decreased activity. Birds are experts at hiding their problem, and slight clues are sometimes the only apparent things we have to judge their health.

Any time a beak overgrows, the cause should be established. The source of the problem could be minor, but even then a physical examination by a veterinarian and an evaluation of the situation is warranted.