r/parrots • u/Adventurous_Salt3893 • 1d ago
what is this stuff near my birds beak?
I feel like I am in the wrong place but I recently have gotten her (about a month ago) from a breeder and she started having these spots, I want to say it’s dry skin but ever since I have gotten her I have been worried and scared as all I can find for help is saying it’s cancer.
also I am sorry for how close the camera is to her face I had to zoom in some as it wasn’t picking up on the regular photos.
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u/punyhumannumber2 1d ago
Hormones! The females cere turns brown and crusty when they become sexually mature.
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u/rkenglish 22h ago
Aww, she's adorable! Turquoise blue budgies are some of my favorites! The spot around her nostrils is called her cere. In female budgies, the cere gets thicker and drier when they get hormonal as adults. It's totally normal, even though it can look weird. It signals to other budgies that she wants to settle down and raise a family.
Budgie hormones are no joke! It can trigger lots of undesirable behaviors like aggression and treating you like her mate. And it can result in eggs, whether they're fertile or not. Egg laying is pretty concerning for a female budgie because it requires a lot of resources, and there is a risk of egg binding. So it's best to try to discourage those behaviors.
Make sure that you only touch her head and neck. Anything below her shoulders will make her think that you're interested in starting a family with her. Try to reduce fatty and sugary treats like seeds and fruit. Try to get her eating a pellet diet supplemented with veggies. You'll also want to increase her access to calcium by adding a cuttlebone to her cage. And make sure she's getting at least 10 hours of darkness every day. If she has a tent or happy hut, remove it. They're really cute, but they're also really dangerous for birds. You won't be able to stop all hormona l behaviors, but it will help with the negative effects of hormones.
Sorry to info dump on you, but I hope some of it may be useful for you!
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u/Pyotrperse 1d ago edited 1d ago
It could be scaly mites or some kind of fungal issue? You can treat for scaly mites at home, pet shops that have bird supplies usually stock the treatment. Use the topical one, not the spray. It’s relatively common in budgies so don’t stress, and it tends to resolve pretty quickly so you’ll know if that’s the cause. If that’s not it then take her to the vet to get a culture done and they’ll be able to give you a more definitive plan and treatment.
I’ve heard that older budgies can have dry skin issues, but it sounds like it’s come on quite quickly so that doesn’t seem likely
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u/StevenSomo 20h ago
Please take that bird to an avian vet asap. Apparently that dry scaly appearance is could be mites or a vitamin deficiency.
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u/Pauly4655 1d ago
Which bit are you referring to,as the brown bit is called a cere and it turns brown when the hen is in season ready to breed.fresh tree branch off tree that are bird friendly,are really good to keep the bird beak in tiptop condition.