A tough topic

[neo71665]

It's been shortened but I can't tell if clipped or they were feeding them out of something like a concrete trough and the ducks ground it down trying to eat. Ones I've seen actually trimmed went back more than that. No I don't agree with it either but I have seen idiots do it because they always seen it done on chickens so they thought you had to do it on every bird.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

View attachment 2690658
Here is a picture of the damage.
I have noticed some of the claws are growing Back, so hope they didn't cut them so short and they grow back.

Yeah, that looks a little odd. But it doesn't look like it will have any problem eating and drinking. I wouldn't worry about it at all if I were you. I can't imagine why in the world in any country someone would think they needed to clip a ducks bill. But lots of practices are normal in places that aren't in others.
I wouldn't worry about the toenails either and I bet they do grow back. I have had plenty of ducks break snag and lose toenails I've never noticed it causing a problem.
Thank you for sharing, this was interesting!

 

[ryneaeiel]

Chicken beaks will grow back so long as they aren't cut too short. Typically taking off a quarter or more of the beak will prevent it from growing back. Most people that do clip beaks only clip the very. very end of the beak. (C) in this photo is what debeaking should be. If there's blood, you've clipped too far.

Claws on both chickens and ducks will grow back so long as they aren't cut too short as well. If the tips of the toes were taken off, the claws won't grow back. This is how clipping of claws should be done. If you clip the claw bone, the claw won't grow back.

Duck bills don't "grow" the same way that chicken beaks do. It looks like they clipped the hook off the bill to keep the ducks from opening wounds on each other. It won't grow back, but it doesn't look severe enough that it would impede the duck's ability to eat or drink. You just have a duck(s) with a hookless bill.

 

[Joduck]

It's been shortened but I can't tell if clipped or they were feeding them out of something like a concrete trough and the ducks ground it down trying to eat. Ones I've seen actually trimmed went back more than that. No I don't agree with it either but I have seen idiots do it because they always seen it done on chickens so they thought you had to do it on every bird.

No it was certainly trimmed as it was a small baby when we got it, it wouldn't have had time to grind it down and when we noticed and looked properly it was red and raw, in combo with the toenails we think that it was certainly cut and the bottom bill is just fine.
The local way to feed babies is using a plastic milk type container with holes cut out, so equally unlikely on that count. But thanks for sharing.

 

[Joduck]

Yeah, that looks a little odd. But it doesn't look like it will have any problem eating and drinking. I wouldn't worry about it at all if I were you. I can't imagine why in the world in any country someone would think they needed to clip a ducks bill. But lots of practices are normal in places that aren't in others.
I wouldn't worry about the toenails either and I bet they do grow back. I have had plenty of ducks break snag and lose toenails I've never noticed it causing a problem.
Thank you for sharing, this was interesting!

No it doesn't have problems eating, except being messy with the crumble they have open access to adult food too and they have no problems with that. And they are growing exceptionally well.
I hope all the toenails will grow back!
I can't imagine for the life of me why it would be done... I can only assume it was an old timer chicken keeper who keeps them in close quarters and decided to dabble with ducks and figured you treat them the same...
I will likely ask the feed store owner too.
Thank you

 

[neo71665]

If you want clean animals ducks were a really poor choice. They are messy their entire life.

 

[Joduck]

Chicken beaks will grow back so long as they aren't cut too short. Typically taking off a quarter or more of the beak will prevent it from growing back. Most people that do clip beaks only clip the very. very end of the beak. (C) in this photo is what debeaking should be. If there's blood, you've clipped too far.

View attachment 2691268

Claws on both chickens and ducks will grow back so long as they aren't cut too short as well. If the tips of the toes were taken off, the claws won't grow back. This is how clipping of claws should be done. If you clip the claw bone, the claw won't grow back.

View attachment 2691271

Duck bills don't "grow" the same way that chicken beaks do. It looks like they clipped the hook off the bill to keep the ducks from opening wounds on each other. It won't grow back, but it doesn't look severe enough that it would impede the duck's ability to eat or drink. You just have a duck(s) with a hookless bill.

Thank you for the very in depth and informative reply!
Some of the chickens we have, the beak was probably cut a little too far back . But they still eat just fine, it just causes them some issues with foraging and getting that worm can take a couple of tries! We will breed ours we hope and won't need to buy any more, so not a future worry as we free range and have no concerns of pecking. I've never seen a chicken for sale commercially round here without trimmed beaks.

Yeah with the ducks he certainly went way too far, his intention wasn't to give them a trim but to cut them right back and on some the tips of the toes were cut off, but certainly not all as some are growing back. Will they be able to use the ones they have as grip or will having some normal ones and some non existan throw them off balance? Our other ducks like to hand out by the water and it's a small concrete wall, so they need some grip I think and out exit ramp is wood, so it gets slippy with algea, but they can just fly out. I think that is the only hardship they may suffer?
They are growing very well and seem very happy. The beaks cause them few issues except messier eating, so they should do just fine I think, even with their ill thought out modifications.. Thank you again, very helpful

 

[Joduck]

If you want clean animals ducks were a really poor choice. They are messy their entire life.

Huh? Who said anything about wanting clean animals?

 

[aart]

Will they be able to use the ones they have as grip or will having some normal ones and some non existan throw them off balance?

Can we see some pics of the toes you are concerned about?

 

[ryneaeiel]

I've never seen a chicken for sale commercially round here without trimmed beaks.

Yeah, it's very common to trim a chicken's beak before transport because they'll be crammed into a small area with each other and are more likely to peck each other as a result.

Can we see some pics of the toes you are concerned about?

I agree! If it's just the first knuckle and they have most of the foot, I don't think it should cause much issue. It'd be easier to tell with pics though!