female parakeets nostril

Question
Thanks Chrys for your responses.  
Do you think i should have the ripped cere looked at & have it treated?  The nostril's look the same today as yesterday and not any worse, which i am happy for.
Also, if she didn't scratch herself in some way, what else could it possibly be?  Should i get her medical attention?  I am new to being a pet owner and don't know if i should run to the doctor's every time something little happens?  Please advise. Thanks in advance.
Tami
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I purchased a 6 mth. old female & male parakeet a week ago yesterday from a bird store.  i have never been a pet owner of birds or any other pet.  They are both eating and adjusting well together in there new surroundings & no change that i can see since i brought them home.  But i noticed last night that the females one nostril area looks to be torn(split) downwards not into the skin either.  There is no redness or swelling or signs of being infected (no puss either).  The birds are doing alot of kissing so i thought maybe it got torn that way by the male.  I did call and went in with the birds to ask the store owners and they said it could be that there was a film over that area and it was there all along and just showed when film was uncovered from the kissing.  Meaning the bird is alittle disfigured in that area.  Could any of this be true or all of it?  Or is there some other reason i am unaware of?  Will the split ever go away?  Also, the female's beak has a white mark on it and it has been there since last night.  Could she have scratched her beak some how on the cage or some other way? Will this go away? I thought it could be food stuck on it but she drinks water daily & it is still there.
I am sorry if these questions sound silly..but i want to make sure she will be okay.
Concerned,
Tami
-----Answer-----
Hi, Tami.  Thanks for posting!

Without actually seeing the nostril, I can't help much.  I've seen keet nostrils like you describe.  I don't know how the cere gets ripped like this, but it does.  Perhaps it happens when the bird scratches itself and it's toenail scratches that area.  I don't believe what the pet store told you about some type of film over the area.  Any type of film would indicate some type of health problem in my mind.  

I don't know if the split will go away...depends on what the problem actually is.  The splits I've seen have healed with time, but I don't know if this is what ails your bird.

Yes, she could have scratched her beak on something.  A bird's beak is like our fingernails...they can get scratched.  She might have been rubbing food or something off her beak and scratched it on something.  Should go away as the beak grows.  

There is no such thing as a silly question!

Chrys

Answer
Hi again, Tami.  It just depends on what the area looks like (how severe the injury is) and how the bird is acting.  Can you get me a picture so I can look at it?  Otherwise, you'll have to make the decision yourself as to whether an avian vet needs to see your bird.

The other bird could have scratched it, she could have ripped it on a toy or something else in her cage (maybe there's a wire sticking out that you may not have even noticed)...birds often injure themselves on things we wouldn't necessarily notice as being a danger for them.

The knowledge as to when to take your bird(s) to the birdie vet comes with knowledge and experience.  Also, I can probably treat some things myself versus taking to my vet because I have many, many years of experience and know how to handle these things myself.  Therefore, you may take your bird(s) to the vet more often at first until you become more knowledgeable.  When I first starting raising parrots, I was at the vet's office at least once per week for something or another, but I also owned lots of parrots (the more birds one owns, the more problems seen).  So I gained a lot of knowledge/experience quickly.  

Depending on the severity of this wound, I wouldn't take the bird to the birdie vet unless this area looks like it's getting infected, the area bleeds, causes the bird discomfort, the bird keeps picking at it, the bird has trouble breathing, and/or the area starts oozing or something like this.  I avoid the bird vet like the plague because the vet's office is the worst place you can take a healthy bird.  The vet's office is filled with sick pets and if your bird isn't sick before you take it to the vet (for example, for a well-bird annual checkup, which I don't believe in), it could get sick from being at the vet's!  Therefore, I wouldn't take your bird in until/unless it's absolutely necessary.  However, I'd advise you to keep an eye on your keet until this area is healed.  If it would make you feel better, by all means, take the bird to be seen.

Chrys