Helping Kiwi with her Hyperkeratosis

I’ve heard from a few other budgie enthusiasts who remove excess keratin build-up by soaking the affected area in mineral oil (or another safe oil of their choice), then gently rubbing off the hyperkeratosis scales with a cotton tip. Typically, I have my avian veterinarian handle this during our annual visit, but I decided to share a quick demonstration of how I do it at home.

If you are concerned about possibly injuring your bird, I strongly recommend having a professional take care of it. If you would like the process to go a bit more smoothly, you can dab a tiny amount of coconut oil on your bird’s cere. I can perform this without applying any oil to Kiwi’s cere, but if your bird is having this done for the first time, using a small amount of coconut or olive oil might make it easier and more comfortable.

Since Kiwi has had this done before, it was unnecessary, but I added some oil for demonstration purposes. You can apply the oil about 30 minutes before starting. Please ensure that none of the oil gets inside your parrot’s nares.

For sanitization, it is best to put some oil on a cotton tip and gently apply it to your bird’s cere. If you look closely at Kiwi’s cere in the pictures below, you will notice that it appears slightly darker and shinier once the oil has been sitting for a while.

I will be sharing some “after” pictures of Kiwi, as well as images of the waxy build-up I removed. I must emphasize that the build-up did not come off on its own — I had to use my fingers to remove it manually.

It is vital to understand proper restraint techniques before attempting this. One advantage I had was Kiwi’s high level of trust in me. If your bird is not tame, you should first remove any items from the cage that might hinder capture or pose a risk. Then, gently but firmly use a towel to secure your bird, either in a corner or against the cage wall.

When restraining, use one hand to secure the head and the other to support the torso and wings. Always ensure the chest is exposed and that you are not squeezing it, as birds need to move their chest to breathe properly.

Gently use your fingers to remove the dead skin from the cere. Because this is not live tissue, it does not cause pain to your bird. More often than not, the bird is more distressed by the restraint itself than by the removal process.

That being said, work in small sections and take your time. Always keep a close eye on your bird’s chest to ensure they are breathing normally, and check constantly for any signs of bleeding.

I’m sure many of you are enjoying the high-quality photos I took of the dead skin I removed from Kiwi’s cere. Let’s be honest — not only does it look quite unappealing, but it also resembles dried-up earwax!

After the procedure, I spent the rest of the day ensuring Kiwi was comfortable and relaxed. She also enjoyed some millet as a well-deserved treat at the end.

And now, the moment you’ve been waiting for — the bird reveal! Here are some photos of Kiwi’s newly cleaned cere!

On a final note, I hope this post helps raise awareness about Kiwi’s condition and highlights how she may look different from other budgies. I decided to write this blog post because I have been receiving some hurtful comments about Kiwi. Some people have called her “ugly” because of her cere, or accused me of being a bad owner, suggesting I should take her to the vet.

Anyone who has been following me for a while already knows that I take my birds to the vet every year for their general exams. Despite explaining this many times, I know there will always be people who continue to comment negatively.

My hope is that this post will help other parrot owners become more familiar with Kiwi’s condition. She may be different, but that does not make her ugly. Different is beautiful.