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What is a bird beak made of?

What is a bird beak made of?

The upper and lower beak are made of bones (essentially maxilla and mandible), vascular dermis and are covered by a layer of hard keratin. The keratin layer is called the rhamphotheca (maxillary rhamphotheca is called a rhinotheca, and mandibular rhamphotheca is...
Exotics Emergencies

Exotics Emergencies

I’m very excited to be joining forces with Centre for Continuing Education (CVE) @ University of Sydney to offer a TimeOnline course on exotics emergencies in October 2023. This course is designed for vets and will cover receiving, assessing and stabilising an...
Sedation in exotics

Sedation in exotics

For some pets, particularly exotics that are prey species, going to the vet and being handled can be very stressful. This stress can cause physiologic changes in the body that can be detrimental.  Sedation may be required to alleviate stress in nervous patients...
Feather picking in parrots

Feather picking in parrots

Feather picking must be one of the most frustrating presenting problems that avian vets deal with. And one that is understandably frustrating for bird owners too.  Many causes of feather picking have been proposed, including various medical, social,...
Wing clipping

Wing clipping

Wing clipping is a procedure commonly performed in birds, however, considering the negative implications on birds’ physical and psychological well-being (including increased risk of cardiovascular disease, keel and tail base injuries, osseous lesions, obesity, and...
Fun feather facts

Fun feather facts

Feathers are a complex modification of hair, but they are truly amazing structures. If it wasn’t for feathers, would we have pens or aeroplanes?? Feather quills were the first writing instruments, before pens came along. And the study of feathers in flight has...