Broken Beaks
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When a flying bird crashes into a mirror or a window or other hard surfaces, this can result in a beak injury, which could be a bruise or a dent or even a broken or ripped-off beak.
Mostly, it is the upper mandible that is affected since it directly hits the obstacle; the lower mandible is protected by the upper beak and less likely to get injured.
Regardless of the amount of damage inflicted to the beak, it is a serious injury that is considered a true emergency. The beak has an abundant blood supply, so any beak injury is likely to cause excessive bleeding. Amputated or torn off beaks will not grow back. Fractured beaks can often be repaired. Bone and nerve endings are connected to the beak, making an injury in that area painful.
Immediate Care
With a puncture, fracture or amputated beak you will need to apply pressure to stop the bleeding. You need to contact an emergency clinic or your avian vet as soon as possible -- but do not wait longer than 24 hours!
If the beak is torn off or the outer layers are damaged, the underlying tissues may begin to dry out. The wound can be rinsed with sterile saline (preservative-free contact lens solution is perfect for situations such as this) to flush out any debris and to help keep the tissue moist until your bird can be evaluated by your veterinarian. Do not be aggressive with flushing, and do not remove the beak if it is partially attached.
Your vet may your bird's beak or wire it together, and covering the injury with a beak composite cast until il regrows. At the hospital, the bird may need to be fed with a feeding tube and, while the beak grows back, your bird will need soft or moistened food.
Long Term Care:
With a minor beak injury, supportive care, appropriate antimicrobials and pain medication and time to heal may be all that is necessary until the defect grows out. With larger injuries, light cured composites or dental acrylic can be used to patch the area until the beak grows back. A fracture to the beak can be repaired, if the blood supply is still good. Some beak injuries result in permanent, disfiguring damage, requiring the bird to eat soft foods for the rest of its life, but other injuries may heal quite well allowing the bird to return to normal beak functioning.
Beak Injuries or Loss:
Many birds will suffer beak injuries during the course of their lives. The upper and lower mandible are vulnerable to trauma and will often fracture as a result. Such injuries are orthopedic in nature. Beaks will not grow back nor repair themselves. (Photo to the right -- a "human-made" beak mutilation to control behavioral problems. A deplorable practice)
One case I have followed of a Bald Eagle whose upper mandible was torn off was resolved by a dentist, who made a dental impression of a healthy beak, reproduced the beak with the same materials used for our teeth -- and he successfully attached the beak -- allowing the Bald Eagle to function normally. I have also heard of beaks being repaired / rebuild with acrylics ... the same material used for artifical nails.
- Holistic First Aid Recommendation: Do not place back with the cage mate. Give homeopathic Arnica for shock and bleeding. (Ref.: Holistic Birds)
Minor beak injuries may heal well after they have been cleaned. Large or deep beak wounds can be cleaned and patched with acrylic. The patch not only protects the wound from infection but also adds stability. BIrds with severe beak injury may require supportive care with fluids and tube feeding, and the administration of antibiotics and antifungals.
The horny beak or bill (rhamphotheca) is a hard, tough, keratinised epidermal structure in birds of prey, as well as seed and grass eaters. In waterfowl such as ducks, geese and swans (Anatidae) the beak is much thinner and softer The rhamphotheca is a modified horny layer consisting of layers of flattened keratin-filled cells, separated from the bones of the upper and lower jaws by a thin, fibrous dermis. The beak's strength is dependent on the particular arrangement conferred by a layer of keratin on a firm bed of bone.
The beak will heal by a process of granulation and epithelialisation, much as with any other epidermal tissue. However, there are practical problems in that the beak will be regularly immersed under water and into food bowls. The objective of any wound management plan should be to keep the wound clean and moist to facilitate the spread of granulation tissue over the exposed bone and protect the bone from dessication. The use of a waterproof dressing is indicated. Products such as the protective paste (Orabase) are resistant to water and can be used to pack the wound cavity. Hydrocolloid dressings can then be applied over the wound to provide further protection. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are indicated until a healthy bed of granulation tissue is established. The rhamphotheca has a good blood supply and will heal well. This can be relied upon when performing surgery on the upper mandible.
(Ref.: http://www.worldwidewounds.com/)
Possible Foods for Birds with Beak Injuries:
- Zupreem monkey chow has been well received by bird, and is a good choice.
- Harrison's Handfeeding Formula (information below -- it is pricey, but an excellent product)
- Soaked Scenic handweaning pellets are an alternative or additional food item
- Masched wweet potatoes, banana, corn - and other healthy vegetables & fruits
- Organic human baby food is great too -- they have fruits / veggies in jars that have the right consistency and are (or should be!) free from contaminants
Please note the below for a good quality diet for your injured bird. Harrison's is known for their high-quality feed.
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