Beak, beak, rattle?

[Sara Ranch]

I'm not familiar with cut beaks and how it affects their breathing and communication.

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Recently adopted a few hens.

Their previous long time owner was unable to care for them the way I would. The girls are flourishing and looking so much healthier than when they came to their forever home.

The previous long time owner cut their beaks. See the pictures. These pics were taken several weeks AFTER they were on their way to a better life.

Two girls sound like they MIGHT have a mucas rattle. I know all my other chickens make a variety of sounds, some to sound like purring. These girls MIGHT be trying to purr/make normal sounds.

With the cut beaks (see pics) - would that impact the sounds they make? Would that affect their breathing through their nostrils?

Note - their does not appear to be a respiratory infection. No one else is making these noises. The longer they are here, the LESS often the sounds are made. Think of someone with a clogged nose trying to do heavy breathing.

The girls are in quarantine.

There are different "cuts". There's the pucked, botox lips look. There's the top beak shorter than the bottom beak. There's the bottom beak shorter than the top beak (but no natural meeting of the ends of the beak.) There's the hole in the side of the cut beak look.

The girls are eating and drinking ok. They are putting on weight.

 

[Kiki]

poor things.
I'm glad to see you were able to rescue them!

 

[mobius]

While I am not knowledgeable about respiratory issues, I think an antibiotic of some sort is often recommended here...

My heart goes out to those poor chickens who had their beaks cut. It may be practiced in some places but it is SO unnecessary...so horrible. My chickens have never even pecked me...

And it is wonderful to read that you, the kind hearted soul, took them in and they are thriving overall. Good on you!

 

[Sara Ranch]

Thank you. There are lots of good hearted, kind people who take in animals that need to be rehomed. And bless the owner who allowed her chickens to be rehomed to begin with.

The previous long time owner cut the beaks and cut their wings. I have at least one with a broken wing. It's past the point of healing. BUT they can go on and live.

I can visually see some of the wing feathers growing and some of the beaks growing. Some beaks may have been cut way too much for them to ever grow back.

I am so looking forward to their fist molt with me! I know, fewer eggs, but I will get to see what they look like with normal feathers!!! (Many have bald spots or just wearing bikinis.)

 

[mobius]

Cool, I wonder if additional protein for the feathers is a good idea? poor babies. Arg.
Say, maybe a game bird feed for now?

Hmmm....molt maybe mid-september or so?

Oooh and the beaks can sometimes grow back? Wonderful news!

 

[Kiki]

Have you checked them over really good for lice and or mites?

 

[mobius]

Again so happy to hear they are all doing well...you may have already done this but a fecal float test at the vets for worms...quick and cheap...

 

[Eggcessive]

Thanks for taking such good care of those hens. I have never had chickens with trimmed beaks, but many large egg farms keep them to prevent them from pecking each other in close quarters while caged together. Also some hatcheries that offer "started pullets" trim beaks, and many are shocked when they receive birds like that.
One thing that might cause some rattling if it is not the trimmed beaks or a respiratory issue, is that there could be some crop contents or liquid in the back of the throat. I wish you good luck with your new hens.

 

[Sara Ranch]

Yes, I checked for mites and for lice. Some had it. ALL were treated for it. I use ACV in the water, garlic and oregano in the bedding/sometimes food. And it's amazing what a good bath with epsom salts will do! Those buggers always come scurrying off!

Some of the beaks look like they are starting to grow back. If the beak is cut too short, they will never grow back. Or if it's broken at a weird angle, it won't grow back. So some of the girls will look like they have permanent botox beaks.

The wing feathers will grow back if they are not cut wrong. Several of the birds literally had their wings chopped off. Very little hanging there. Poor girls.

As for the missing feathers, those should come back with the next molt. They have some feathers that were in the process of coming in that are doing great. All in all, the girls look much healthier and appear to be much happier now.

Thanks for the info on the crop and the weird sounds. No one appears to be sick with respiratory stuffs. Just have two birds that sound congested/flemy.