White Talons

[Jules]

We have noticed that a lot of our birds in breeding aviaries have developed white or stripey white/black talons (they have previously all had normal black talons). The only difference between the aviary birds and our flying birds is that we have been giving the aviary birds a moulting vitamin supplement from A1 Raptor. We spoke to our vet and he thinks it could be related to the vitamins as otherwise they are perfectly healthy with normal feathers and feet/ceres. Any ideas?

[Hacker]

Has anyone got ideas about this one, could it be damage from a collision with a perch or something when the bird is starting to learn to fly, a bit like a blood blister under your nail.
What do our vets think and could it weaken the talon?

[Jimmy]

Are the talons overgrown?

Jimmy

[As The Falcon Her Bells]

I have come across this in older falcons that are getting "burned out" or falcons in bad condition or/and with vitamin or calcium loss (cant spell the right word)

[Yarak1]

We have noticed that a lot of our birds in breeding aviaries have developed white or stripey white/black talons (they have previously all had normal black talons). The only difference between the aviary birds and our flying birds is that we have been giving the aviary birds a moulting vitamin supplement from A1 Raptor. We spoke to our vet and he thinks it could be related to the vitamins as otherwise they are perfectly healthy with normal feathers and feet/ceres. Any ideas?

Hi Jules, I had this years ago and was told that it was too much vitamin supplement being given..........I no longer give supplements because no really knows how much to give...........A good varied diet is the key.......

[Matthew Symons]

I have come across this in older falcons that are getting "burned out" or falcons in bad condition or/and with vitamin or calcium loss (cant spell the right word)
i think ur spot on there. Colour distortion in all birds claws talons is calcium defficency

[Harrisii]

funny you should ask this as recently i noticed this in my male harris.
the base of the talons where they emerged from the toe were lighter in colour, almost white. this coincided with anti-biotics from the vet at the time.
may not be related but big coincidence. he was not fed any suppliments at this time and the only diference was the anti-biotics.
when the talons grows on they become black again nearer the point.
it had obviously had something to do with what was being consumed at that time so you may be spot on with the suppliments.
i asked a more experienced falconer his advise at the time and he said it was nothing to worry about, he had seen it before and didnt experience any problems from it and there is no weakening of the talon.

on another slightly different note, ive seen aharris hawk with white talons.
nothing to do with anything other than a recesive gene, apprently its mother had the same thing. they were not weak just white.

[Talon]

i allso have seen young kestrels with one or two white talons on one foot.
but on the other foot there all black.?