Dry Chicken Lips

[bonnie]

Well, I call the skin around the beak chicken lips. They are very dry. I have a bottle of the George's Aloe. Is it safe to apply it that close to his mouth or would something else be better?

[Larry, Baby and Me]

Hey girl,

Is Chicken's beak dry as well? How about his feet?

I think U2s and M2s have a dry look about their beak and feet. They do produce a lot of powder.

I would spray him on his feathers with the George's. He will then preen and get some of it on his beak and that skin part.

Use George's full strength. It won't hurt him to get some of it in his mouth when preening. He can't get much that way.

Don't put it in his water like some have suggested. It is a mild laxative for humans and I am sure it would not be good for birds to swallow. But the little that he would get by preening is okay.

I spray Baby's feet with it and it takes away the dryness.

You might want to add a little nuts to his diet to give him some natural oil in his system. Toos love Pecans. ;)

[bonnie]

Thanks Larry, I'll try it! I usually spray him with George's after bath time (which is tonight). I never thought about him rubbing his beak and preening... duh!!!
I'll get some pecans too!

[Larry, Baby and Me]

A few things about U2s and M2s...

Being in captivity, they have the propensity to get fat.

Do you have a gram scale? And if yes - how often to you weigh him? And if yes - what is his weight? And does his weight remain fairly steady?

The reason I am mentioning this is nuts are good for putting oil in their system but too many are not good for a Too.

I would use the "chopped" pecans as a treat and not part of his diet. I would not worry too much about his dry looking beak - that is normal. A shiny beak for a Too is a sign of illness.

I am struggling with this diet thing with Baby. Years ago when I had my Zon - that girl would eat anything... but Baby like most Toos is a bit picky.

Baby is a good eater - but not as balanced as I would like. I just think that we do not know the proper diet for U2s and M2s. I will be starting a new thread at some point to get everyone's input on diet for the different species... one size does not fit all.

[bonnie]

That is good to know! I would have just added it into his normal food!
I don't have a scale, but his well birdy visit was not long ago and he was a good weight. I don't remember exactly what it was...
I should go get one...:doh:

[Larry, Baby and Me]

Every bird owner should have a gram scale.

Ya just gotta know what there good weight is so you can compare it to a "sick" weight.

You can get the pricey scales made just for birds with a perch mounted on it and such, but I haven't found a need for a perch on the scale.

I take Baby in a neutral room (bathroom) and plunk her on the scale - get a reading - log it in an Excel spreadsheet --- and that's it.

I weigh her at least once a week. A log of weight helps to catch any illnesses that might be sneaking up on the bird.

Here is one that I have - and it is inexpensive.

http://www.amazon.com/Pelouze-Straight-Weigh-Postal-SP5/dp/B00006IACE/ref=pd_bbs_11?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1199022210&sr=8-11

[TikiTalks]

you can also purchase one from walmart or some health food stores, office max, staples etc. i have one that has a removable tray that i'm going to hot glue gun a perch too :) that way i can do it either way and the tiels who are not wanting to stay put still get an accurate weight@

[bonnie]

Thanks you two! I'll pick one up next time I go to town!

[Larry, Baby and Me]

The scale should weigh things less than 5 pounds. In that way it is more accurate at the lower end of the weight range. It should also weigh in grams... all postal scales do that.

They are called postal scales. The SP5 on this one means... It weighs items up to 5 pounds.

Pelouze Straight Weigh Postal Scale SP5

[too&me]

You can also get one at any kitchen supply store or even Bed Bath & beyond-Just ask for a gram scale. Harry enjoys getting on his-no perch. It looks so funny when he bends down & watches the numbers come up. For all the world like a weight watching human. May be we shouldn't make him watch The Biggest Looser? ;)

[FoxersArtist]

Larry,
Can you elaborate on why a shiney too beak is a sign of illness? I have heard this before but don't know why.
-Anna