Area around beak swollen, beak turning black, pictures

[Miss Lydia]

so sorry to hear of your loss.

 

[RhodeIslandRedFan]

I am so sorry to hear you lost your hen.

I searched for anything similar when you first posted this but could not find anything that would help. I was hoping she would be ok. Did your vet give you any idea what this was?

 

[Chikn the Gr8]

First off, I know this thread is really old and I'm sorry for bringing it back from the dead. Secondly, I'll warn you now of the rambling. Sorry.

I have been trying for quite some time to figure out what is wrong with my chickens beak and this seems to be the closest thing I have found. I had two with this issue. They both started on the top beak with what looked like a dry spot, similar to a split finger nail maybe. It seemed like overnight they had "rotted" off, the majority of the top beak all the way back to the nose. I couldn't find anything else wrong with them. No spots on their comb, no change in attitude or appetite, They seemed to not even notice this happened. I killed them immediately so not to have them suffer with this.

A few things of notice. All the info I have found with similar issues seem to have the same Rhode Island Red type chickens pictured. This may be trivial but I found it odd. Through my searching I have come to conclude mine are Red Stars which are a hybrid breed. Don't quote me though, I may be wrong. Also, mine were de-beaked when I got them. This was an issue from the beginning as I disagree with this practice and having BYC doesn't go along with the idea. Back on track, I noticed the two chickens affected both had shorter top beaks with what looked to be very small hairline cracks in the center just at the tips. Maybe this is how it started? An infection of some type or they simply died?

I'm in the Azores and got these girls as chicks from a truck that comes by every so often. The only thing I do know is they came from a commercial hatchery in Portugal. I have 9 more of them and none show any sign of this nor do the 10 others that I have that were from the island. The 10 "island chickens" are not de-beaked.

Again, sorry for the long post. I'm still not sure what really caused this and I'm concerned if it's contagious or making the eggs unsafe to eat.

 

[fishouttah20]

Mine hen has the same problem now...the 12 others look fine. None de-beaked. I just don't understand!! HELP!!!

 

[bondgrl001]

Mine hen has the same problem now...the 12 others look fine. None de-beaked. I just don't understand!! HELP!!!

 

[bondgrl001]

Is there an update with your hen? I seemed to have similar issue with my polish. I had included pics of my orignal post. The red inflammation around her beak area went away after few rounds of antibiotics. Her beak went from Palish white to really dark gray. She was a young pullet going on 10 months old. Come to find out the older they get, the darker their beaks get. She is now fine and healthy. No one really had an answer to my posting. Someone thought I might have had a roo instead. Well she lays eggs so that was out of the question.
Send pics and give update.

 

[ageranger361]

I’m having this same exact issue now. I got 12 American Bresse (AB) from a local breeder. 1 died day two. It had a missing top beak, infected comb, and eyes were both blackened and rotting. I immediately took it out if the brooder as soon as I found it that morning. I thought the necrosis was post-mortem since it is 90° plus outside now. Day three I found another dead chick and three more alive with rotting top beaks and infected combs. I removed and culled them since they could not eat. I contacted the breeder to let him know what was happening so he could clean his operation just in case.

I put the remainder of the chicks onto medicated starter feed today and gave them a teaspoon of doxy in their drinking water. I will update as much as possible on progression.

Here’s an interesting addition though. Although the infected birds are all AB which have all been vaccinated for (or at least I paid for) pullorum, Mareks, and coccidiosis, I have a flock of Rhode Island Red chickens (5 hens and 1 rooster) and I’m raising 7 RIR chicks from my own flock of exactly the same age as these AB chicks. I will try to include pictures.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Pulling this thread out of the dustbin...

I have a 7 year old BO hen that has developed this issue. She has had it for several weeks but I was unable to catch her until now. She has no other spots or lesions anywhere on her. No other chickens have it either. She is eating and drinking just fine. Good appetite. No lethargy.

I did message one of the poultry professors from the University of Arkansas but he hasn't responded yet. Sometimes he doesn't...

Anyone figured out what it could be? Cancer maybe?

@Eggcessive
@Wyorp Rock
@azygous

 

[Eggcessive]

I helped with your previous thread last month. It could be a melanoma skin cancer inside the beak, but would need to be confirmed with a necropsy and histology by your state vet pathologist. I would go back to your previous thread to post this, or make a new thread.

Pulling this thread out of the dustbin...

I have a 7 year old BO hen that has developed this issue. She has had it for several weeks but I was unable to catch her until now. She has no other spots or lesions anywhere on her. No other chickens have it either. She is eating and drinking just fine. Good appetite. No lethargy.

I did message one of the poultry professors from the University of Arkansas but he hasn't responded yet. Sometimes he doesn't...

Anyone figured out what it could be? Cancer maybe?

@Eggcessive
@Wyorp Rock
@azygous

View attachment 4160627View attachment 4160628View attachment 4160629

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Pulling this thread out of the dustbin...

I have a 7 year old BO hen that has developed this issue. She has had it for several weeks but I was unable to catch her until now. She has no other spots or lesions anywhere on her. No other chickens have it either. She is eating and drinking just fine. Good appetite. No lethargy.

I did message one of the poultry professors from the University of Arkansas but he hasn't responded yet. Sometimes he doesn't...

Anyone figured out what it could be? Cancer maybe?

@Eggcessive
@Wyorp Rock
@azygous

View attachment 4160627View attachment 4160628View attachment 4160629

Poor Girl!
I'm sorry about your hen.
I agree, it may be cancer. If the Doc gets back with you let us know what you find out.