Broken Beaks

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Reurra

Reurra

Crowing
13 Years
Apr 11, 2012
2,145
958
387
Nova Scotia
So I went out today to the local stock auction. They had alot of birds, but most were roosters and some had no feathers and muddy butt. I was about to leave when I saw a guy at the back of the yard with a truck filled with birds packed in like sardines. I walked over to see what he was doing and found that he had about 50 birds. The state of them was pathetic. Most had broken beaks. They could not stand either, the crates they were in were only about 10 inches high.

Though they seemed to over all be OK at first glance, i saw that many of them had pale waddles and as I said before, broken beaks. I decided to buy 2. I could only afford 10 bucks, and he said I could have two. i think it was over priced, but I took them anyhow because I could not bear to see them living like they were. I took the 2 that looked the worst. I wish i could ahve bought the whole lot and saved them. He said he had a huge farm and these were the extra birds.

How can i help these birds recover? What sorts of treatments are there to get them healthy again? Should i file the lower beak down? I really need help. If they die, at least they will go in peace and happiness rather than in crowded disgusting conditions.

Right now they are perky, strutting around and drinking. One was even eating. I think I have a rooster and a hen. The lady said they were comets. I dont know what those are.
 
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Bless your heart! Looks like they've had their top beaks cauterized when they were young so they won't cannibalize each other during their wretched existence as layers. I'd file down the bottom beak a little. A Pedi-paws tool is the quickest/easiest on everyone. I'd check them for lice and probably give them a bath in a few days to get any cooties off of them. Ease them in slowly to any new food and water, watch that they don't gore themselves and get a crop impaction but other than that...congratulations on your new rescue chickens. The one with the large comb does look like it could be a roo.

If you have any probiotic (not yogurt) an actual probiotic product like Probios (feed stores carry it) I'd work it into their food. And we're big on Organic Apple Cider Vinegar in their water for all sorts of health benefits. I'd also put some electrolyte/vitamin mix in their water too. Poor things have probably had a pretty stressful life, if not the transport to the auction would have been.

Good luck and thank you for making the effort to save them. I bet they'll think they died and went to heaven!
 
Looks like a rooster and a hen. The beaks aren't broken, they are trimmed. It's a common practice with commercial poultry opperations and designed to eliminate pecking and cannibalism. Pethetic isn't it? Gives PETA more ammo. Give them good care and deep dishes and they will live long lives. You did a good thing........Pop
 
Cauterized? That horrible!! So Im guessing they wont grow back? Well, what a shame, I dont think they can scratch if that is the case.

I will pick some stuff up at the store and see what I can do to help them get stronger. As I said they are spunky right now. If they can survive what they ahve been through all thier lives, Im sure they can survive me! haha

how do i ease them into thier food? Limit the availability? Right now i ahve a hanging feeder. The "roo" seems to know what to do with the feed, but the other one doesnt. They sure are dringking a ton right now. Will that hurt them?

Ive already got one very special roo, Ill have to rehome the new roo, but Ill get him healthy first and find a good careing family to watch over him when hes fully grown. Until then, Ill make sure he gets the best care.

His legs are so pale :(
 
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Reurra said:
Cauterized? That horrible!! So Im guessing they wont grow back? Well, what a shame, I dont think they can scratch if that is the case.

I will pick some stuff up at the store and see what I can do to help them get stronger. As I said they are spunky right now. If they can survive what they ahve been through all thier lives, Im sure they can survive me! haha

how do i ease them into thier food? Limit the availability? Right now i ahve a hanging feeder. The "roo" seems to know what to do with the feed, but the other one doesnt. They sure are dringking a ton right now. Will that hurt them?

Ive already got one very special roo, Ill have to rehome the new roo, but Ill get him healthy first and find a good careing family to watch over him when hes fully grown. Until then, Ill make sure he gets the best care.

His legs are so pale :(
Click to expand...

water is good for them give them loads of it

as for watery poo thats due to all the water they are drinking it shoulnt be an issue

ease them to food meaning give them mash or crumbs first, mix with pellets as they are larger. im guessing they been on mash all their lives so pellets will be new to them

good luck and give your self a big pay on ya back for rescuing them
 
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Ive gotten them crumbs and threw in some scratch thats barley corn and oats. I also threw in some grit just in case they ahvent had any. I was careful not to put in too much though. I dont think they can scratch properly but I figured if they can get to it, it might help. Im hoping too that the concrete floor will help file the lower beak down to a more normal length. I dont want to man handle them too soon and make them scared of us.
 
I checked on my birds this morning. My rooster is cuddling the hen like shes the bee's knees. The other broken beak, which I strongly believe is a roo now, is all alone in the corner of the roost, just fluffed. I cant believe how my Leghorn has just taken to the hen. How many hens per rooster is ok? I might keep the little roo and get him a couple of girls. Can roosters coexsist or do they reach an age where they will always fight? I dont think that the little roo can defend himself and seems to submit to my Leghorn without trouble. I dont know if that will change as he gets older though. I think his debeaking has caused him to be submissive. But with good food and lots of room, he might get more confident and stronger. Though he will likely get wolluped because of his disability. Of the 3 birds, the little roo is the most tame, a little shy, but not so shy that he wont eat from my hand.

How far back would be a safe bet on trimming those lower beaks? I dont wnat to hit bone and hurt them. Ive looked at some skull pictures and saw that the beak itself naturally is only about 1/2 inch log past the nostril. The lower jaw seems to follow the same. Would it be safe to take off about 1/4 inch from the lower jaw? It looks like all beak material to me, but I want to make sure. As it is, they try to peck and get stumped on thier lower jaw. I feel so bad for them!
 
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Beaks are like nails...there is a blood rich growth portion you don't want to hit. When they were de-beaked, the machine seared into that sensitive blood rich area and put an end to any more growth. Trimming shouldn't be a problem. Just stop when you hit blood. I don't think you'd get as much as a 1/4" off, probably less than that before you reach the quick.

If there are enough hens, 2 roos can get along.

Good job on adding the grit. They can have all the water they want, you just don't want them to gorge themselves on feed.

It's too late now, but in the future, it's good practice to quarantine any new birds for 30 days. You don't know what kind of diseases these birds might have and could spread to your birds.

Glad to hear your Leghorn is happy to have a new "shorty" in his flock. Hope he'll let the other roo stay. They sound like they'll have a loving home with you.
hugs.gif
 

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