Budgie problem - large cere?

CK.1

My Budgie's cere seems to be getting gradually larger. Does anyone know if this is harmful? Pictures attached (it's a hen)

Thanks.

FranknFurter

I think your little girl needs a trip to the vet soon as possible.
What age is she?

Important to bring her to the vet though as the malformation may be affecting her breathing, or ability to open her beak in comfort.

B

CK.1

Hi Frank,

thanks for the reply. I'm not sure how old she is, probably 2 or 3. I found a few sites that mention the condition brown hypertrophy of the cere, it looks like this is what she has. Most of them seem to think that it is harmless once the nostrils are not blocked. I don't want to stress her out with an unnecessary trip to the vet. (She is a narky little bitch also and does not like being handled at all!!). One site said it can be caused by a lack of vitamin A. Do you know much about it?

http://www.exoticpetvet.net/avian/budgietiel.html wrote:

Some hens will develop brown hypertrophy of the cere, a thickening of the cere that is considered normal, however, for cosmetic reasons, an avian veterinarian can carefully peel off the excessive growth

Nala

Bring her to the vet. You won't know for certain otherwise what's wrong with her. My cat had a fit once which is a symptom of epilepsy but she was actually poisoned.

Sigma Force

Take the bird to the vet straight away birds go downhill fast, don't worry about the stress of it she will be fine, all animals or at least 99% of them get stressed at the vets. Hens can be narky but they are also tough cookies.
Take her to a vet that knows birds eg B OMalley in Bray

CK.1

Update: brought her to the vet and looks like I was right, it's brown hypertrophy. Vet said it is not harmful and is beat left alone. Just have to keep an eye on her and make sure the nostrils don't get blocked.