Scaly Face Mites in Budgies and Parrots: Beak and Cere Growths

Burrowing mites that live in the skin of the beak corners, cere, legs and sometimes the vent. They cause grey-white, porous, pumice-like crusts and itching. They are common in budgies and much rarer in larger parrots.

With an antiparasitic medicine prescribed by an avian vet, usually ivermectin or moxidectin, plus thorough cleaning of the cage and replacing wooden perches. Your vet chooses the drug and the dose for your bird’s weight.

Yes, between birds. Keep the affected bird apart and check every bird in the household. A bird can carry mites for a long time without signs.

Common causes are dry air, vitamin A deficiency from a seed-only diet, and liver disease. A flaking beak together with feather problems needs a vet, because it can be a viral disease.

Yes. It gives the treatment schemes from the doctor’s practice, including the mite treatment scheme, vitamin A and a beak first-aid kit, to discuss with your vet. Systemic antiparasitics are always prescribed and diluted by a vet for your bird’s weight.

Mites spread by close contact between birds, often from parents to chicks in the nest. A bird can carry them for months or years without signs, and crusts can appear when its immunity drops, for example with stress or a poor diet.

It is not recommended. Clippers can split the beak or cut living tissue. An overgrown beak is usually a sign of a health or diet problem, so an avian vet should find the cause and shape the beak if needed.

After payment you get an email with a link to your VetGO account at panel.vetgo.pro, where you can read the guide online or download the PDF.