Beak Damage? Molting

[ANiceKaren]

Hi everyone! My girl Dandelion is going through a molt.. she is on about 3 weeks. Not eating as much and seems to not feel well. More laying around and standing hunched. When I picked her up today I noticed this sore on her beak.. thoughts?! It looks like a blister of some sort..crack? Not sure it’s from a peck? Seems like something different? Can this happen during a molt? Any thoughts on how I can help her She seems to shake too at times.. like a shiver? Worried this is more than a normal molt..

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Looks like a minor scrape (red circle) that will probably heal up o.k. on it's own. She may have scraped it on some wire fencing or a feeder. If you wish, you could paint the scab with a little Iodine.

The tip of her beak looks cracked (red line), it may mend on it's own, possible that the outer layer may peel off, hard to tell.
You can try mending it with super glue and a piece of tea bag if you wish (instructions in this LINK.)

I've found molting birds usually don't eat very well or they go off their feed. A sore beak is going to make that a bit more of a challenge. Try offering her some wet soupy feed, bits of scrambled egg or fish to entice her. Hydration is most important of course.
If she's really struggling, then direct dosing her with a poultry vitamin like Poultry Cell for a couple of days may also give her a boost.

 

[ANiceKaren]

Ok

Looks like a minor scrape (red circle) that will probably heal up o.k. on it's own. She may have scraped it on some wire fencing or a feeder. If you wish, you could paint the scab with a little Iodine.

The tip of her beak looks cracked (red line), it may mend on it's own, possible that the outer layer may peel off, hard to tell.
You can try mending it with super glue and a piece of tea bag if you wish (instructions in this LINK.)

I've found molting birds usually don't eat very well or they go off their feed. A sore beak is going to make that a bit more of a challenge. Try offering her some wet soupy feed, bits of scrambled egg or fish to entice her. Hydration is most important of course.
If she's really struggling, then direct dosing her with a poultry vitamin like Poultry Cell for a couple of days may also give her a boost.


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thank you so much! I didn’t even notice the crack in her beak! That makes me more concerned than the scrape! I wonder what happened to her! She seems to be still eating. She will eat eggs, yogurt and mushy food so I’ll keep that up! I did apply a little non-pain relief Neosporin to her scrape. I too will keep on eye on tip of beak. I’ll try that link! Thank you!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Ok

thank you so much! I didn’t even notice the crack in her beak! That makes me more concerned than the scrape! I wonder what happened to her! She seems to be still eating. She will eat eggs, yogurt and mushy food so I’ll keep that up! I did apply a little non-pain relief Neosporin to her scrape. I too will keep on eye on tip of beak. I’ll try that link! Thank you!

Sometimes they can crack or break their beaks in weird ways. Often its from trying to reach through fencing to grab a bug or piece of grass sticking up. Pecking at something hard or even getting into a scrap with another hen (yes, I've had 2 with damaged beaks after having a spat...).
These types of things usually heal o.k. it just takes a bit of time, and they will be sore for a few days.

 

[ANiceKaren]

Sometimes they can crack or break their beaks in weird ways. Often its from trying to reach through fencing to grab a bug or piece of grass sticking up. Pecking at something hard or even getting into a scrap with another hen (yes, I've had 2 with damaged beaks after having a spat...).
These types of things usually heal o.k. it just takes a bit of time, and they will be sore for a few days.

Thank you! Would you recommend trying to fix that crack or in your opinion does it look like it would heal? She is molting pretty bad and I hate to wrap her in towels and try to hold down to fix that! She is eating.. I saw her yesterday go for her treats and mushy chicken food.

 

[SmiYa0126]

Could you check her for mites or lice, the shivering make me think she may have infestation?

 

[ANiceKaren]

Could you check her for mites or lice, the shivering make me think she may have infestation?

I’ll check her for sure! I haven’t noticed anything but I’ll check closer this morning. Thank you!

 

[ANiceKaren]

I’ll check her for sure! I haven’t noticed anything but I’ll check closer this morning. Thank you!

I didn’t see any mites. Just checked her. She shivers when I hold her… I think due to molting and being held but she enjoys it lol. She comes to me to be held.

 

[ANiceKaren]

No

Could you check her for mites or lice, the shivering make me think she may have infestation?

No mites that I can see. She shivers when I hold her which she enjoys. She comes running to be held

 

[SmiYa0126]

Ok, that's good!