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Your parrot's beak is its most important tool, essential for preening, eating, climbing, drinking, prying, playing and more. A bird's beak must be in top condition to be up to all these tasks, and proper beak care is essential for your pet's good health, comfort and happiness.

Why Parrots Need Beak Care

Wild parrots and parakeets don't get assistance with beak care, so why does your pet bird need any help? The truth is, our pampered pet birds have softer diets, gentler toys and a far more pleasant life than most wild birds. Pet birds don't need to pry through stiff husks or hulls to access one small morsel of food, and they don't need to whittle out a nesting cavity or build a nest to raise their chicks. They also don't need to climb away from potential predators, or climb into strange locations while seeking out food. Furthermore, diet, genetics, trauma and age can all wreak havoc on a bird's beak, and because pet birds often have longer lifespans and eat different diets than their wild cousins, their beaks can be significantly different from wild parrots.

It is common for pet birds to have overgrown, underused beaks or to develop other difficulties with their beaks. Deformations, discoloration, peeling and cracking are all potential beak problems your pet bird may face, but with proper care, you can help your bird keep its beak in peak condition.

Caring for Your Parrot's Beak

There are several ways you can help ensure your parrot has a strong, healthy beak.

• Provide Proper Nutrition With Every Meal
  Offer your parrot a healthy, balanced diet that meets all of its nutritional needs. Pelleted parrot food is nutritionally sound, but also offer fresh vegetables, fruit treats and hard seeds and nuts to supplement the diet, provide trace nutrients and encourage more biting and chewing activity. Fresh, clean water should always be available to your bird.
  
  
• Offer Entertaining Chew Toys
  Biting and chewing will help your parrot maintain its bill, and a variety of toys is essential to entice your parrot to chew appropriately. Mineral blocks, ropes, wooden block or beads, coconut pieces and other toys are great options. Rotate which toys are available regularly to keep your parrot interested and entertained.
  
  
• Include a Conditioning Perch in the Bird's Habitat
  A conditioning perch – a slightly coarser or abrasive perch than a typical twig or bar – is essential to help your parrot keep its beak healthy. The bird will wipe its bill on the perch, removing leftover food or other debris that can get stuck and cause beak or mouth problems. The same perch will also help keep the bird's talons in good condition.
  
  
• Keep Safety in Mind at All Times
  An unsafe cage or other enclosure can be hazardous to your bird and its beak, causing scratches, chips or even breaks or burns as the bird attempts to grip or chew inappropriate objects such as broken metal bars, electrical cords or other dangerous items. A bird's bill can also get stuck in too-small spaces, and could chip or break as the bird struggles to get away.
  
  
• Visit the Veterinarian Regularly
  Regular visits with your avian vet are essential to keep your parrot's bill healthy. The veterinarian will examine your bird's bill and determine if it is in good shape, and can clip or file the beak to correct problems if necessary. Your vet can also check for and help with other causes of beak problems, such as dietary deficiencies, diseases or other health concerns.

Your parrot needs a strong, healthy beak to stay safe and comfortable, and if you take several steps to keep your bird's beak in good condition, they won't have anything to squawk about.