7 week old chick has long upper beak

[Taylorchickens]

Hello! Here I am again asking more questions

My Brahma hen is 7 weeks old ish. She has a longer upper beak than any of the other chicks I have.
I am new to chickens. Is this normal? Should I be concerned?

Thanks! Picture attached

 

[Prince and Pavo]

Hello!

This isn’t necessarily an emergency, however if it is left it will eventually create problems. I would suggest using dog nail clippers or something else similar to trim the end of the beak very carefully, being extremely careful not to cut into the quick of the beak. Usually you’ll be able to see where the quick is; it will be the darker part that makes up most of the beak.

Do your birds free range or have access to hard surfaces that they can scrape and file down their beaks and claws on? Do they eat from the ground or from a feeder? Eating and scratching on the ground is good for beak and claw health.

 

[Bertram]

I would trim it. I use human nail clippers since I raise bantams and they are smaller. Trim the sides of the top beak then trim the point. If you just cut the point off like you would trim your fingernail you could crack your chicks beak.

 

[SummerTheAnimalGirl]

X2 what the other posters said

 

[Taylorchickens]

Hello!

This isn’t necessarily an emergency, however if it is left it will eventually create problems. I would suggest using dog nail clippers or something else similar to trim the end of the beak very carefully, being extremely careful not to cut into the quick of the beak. Usually you’ll be able to see where the quick is; it will be the darker part that makes up most of the beak.

Do your birds free range or have access to hard surfaces that they can scrape and file down their beaks and claws on? Do they eat from the ground or from a feeder? Eating and scratching on the ground is good for beak and claw health.

Thank you for the info! Yes, they were just moved from the brooder to the coop about a week ago. I let them free range for a few hours during the day when I’m watching them. If not then they are in their run with construction sand at the bottom. They eat from a feeder I got at Tractor supply. Below is my set up. There’s even a retaining wall they can scrape their beaks on. I’ve only had them for about 5 days now. I didn’t have them when they were in the brooder, my friend raised them.

I was a vet tech so luckily I do know about the quit and such when cutting dogs nail. I will do that carefully for her. I had no idea you could trim them!

 

[Prince and Pavo]

That’s cool that you were a vet tech!
Yep, you can trim them

I would suggest giving them a large rock to scrape their beaks on, and it would be best for them to have a hard surface in the coop so that their claws don’t get too long either.

Is there a reason you don’t let them free range all day? Are you afraid of predators getting them, or that they’ll get lost, or maybe something else?

Sprinkling the food around on the ground would be ideal so that they can scratch and peck, but if you have sand it would kind of defeat the purpose, especially since a lot would probably get buried. Personally, I would just let them have dirt in the coop instead of sand, but it’s up to you.

 

[Taylorchickens]

That’s cool that you were a vet tech!
Yep, you can trim them

I would suggest giving them a large rock to scrape their beaks on, and it would be best for them to have a hard surface in the coop so that their claws don’t get too long either.

Is there a reason you don’t let them free range all day? Are you afraid of predators getting them, or that they’ll get lost, or maybe something else?

Sprinkling the food around on the ground would be ideal so that they can scratch and peck, but if you have sand it would kind of defeat the purpose, especially since a lot would probably get buried. Personally, I would just let them have dirt in the coop instead of sand, but it’s up to you.

Thank you!

That’s a great idea. I will definitely add a rock in there for them. I’ve been trying to find a few things to play with and enjoy in their run.

I honestly have no idea why I haven’t let them free range without my eye on them yet! Maybe just because I thought they were still a bit young and something could get them easier? We have about a half acre that’s fully fenced in ( 6ft privacy) so I don’t think they could necessarily get lost they are pretty secure!
But anyway, I was just waiting for the right time and to feel more confident letting them out I guess.

We chose sand just because I randomly picked one of the top choices people recommended. It doesn’t drain all that well in the dirt so we thought gravel with sand over would help with that.

The plan eventually is to have them free ranging most of the time and in the coop/run at night.

Thanks for so much help and input!

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

Hi and welcome to BYC. Depending on how high the predator load is in your area, you are wise to keep your chicks confined until they grow larger in size. I don't usually let my youngsters out to range free until they are nearly grown. A seven week old chick is still pretty small, and even more critters hunt chicks than they do grown chickens. In my area, Texas rat snakes, Mississippi kites and crows are some of my local predators that will eat a 7 week old chick but not a grown chicken. Your chicks don't know what they are missing yet, as far as getting to roam free. If you let them out soon, keep a close eye on them to keep them safe!