Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A freind has a young cockatiel who she found badly wounded, and with half his lower beak torn off. The vet she saw was unqualified, and the bird must wait to get to a decent avian vet.

Any thoughts on the bird's chances for recovery?

Thanks

Many birds can and have survived missing part of the beak. The diet will have to be watched closely to make sure it contains items easily picked up with the other portion of the beak. In extreme circumstances some vets have even been known to rebuild a portion of the beak with a putty/plaster type substance. They usually only do this if the bird is not able to eat missing the beak portion. Birds although fragile in many ways are quite ingenuitive and if given good care can overcome many maladies or deformities.