Beak Injury (non emergency), top of beak chip.

MysticUniKitty

Crowing
Mar 2, 2019
1,286
6,473
407
North Texas,Collin County
Hello!

So it doesn't "look" like an emergency, but wanted to double check, I've been looking on here for advice and finding questions for just not the right thing.
looked through google for a good diagram and can't find one. of course when i'm worried or frustrated i can't find the keys in my hand :idunno:old

Anyways... it looks like a small chip right below the air holes on the top of the beak was chipped off of two of my Maran pullets. looks like some dried/scabbed blood is there, not much just like a drop. I was trying to take photos but it looks like a blur with feathers :rolleyes: :barnie

Should i separate these two from the others for now? I'm not too sure how it happened, looks like when one of us walks into a door or pole/bar. I do have bricks holding up waterers... could they have bonked on those? :idunnoShould i get a cream to put on it while it heals or just leave be? these CMs are feisty.

I've noticed them eating their feathers too so going to get them some more protein.
 
If you can get a couple of good photos that would be helpful.

How old are your chickens?
What do you feed them?

If no one is picking at the injury, then I would leave it alone and see how it goes - but the photos would be best.

I feed chick starter/grower since i have a mixed flock supplement with oyster shell for the hens. The two who are injured are 9 weeks old this week. I have month olds in the mix too.

I'll try and get good photos this afternoon when my kids get home. I can hold then and they snap photos.
 
Ok ended up bringing her in to take photos as my buff orpington hen is cause of damage! Caught her on Top of her ripping out feathers!!! :he:rant

That one has been tossed out in the pen by her tail feathers as she tried goong for me too:mad:

I'm worried about her eyes she keeps closing one at a time... on top of that the beak is bleeding more. :hit

499FEF59-91A3-4FEE-B31D-CF3B0BA9CC51.jpeg
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It looks to have been skinned. Often times something like that is from sticking a beak through wire.
If you wish, you can wipe it off and dab a spot of Blu Kote on it.

As for the hen doing the damage, she may have, but a lot of times when blood is seen that can start some pecking.
9 week olds with adults can also be tricking and it can be common for adults to pluck at their feathers.

I would check this little over just to make sure she has no other injuries. Let her eat/drink then put them back where the adults can see them and continue with a slow integration.
 
It looks to have been skinned. Often times something like that is from sticking a beak through wire.
If you wish, you can wipe it off and dab a spot of Blu Kote on it.

As for the hen doing the damage, she may have, but a lot of times when blood is seen that can start some pecking.
9 week olds with adults can also be tricking and it can be common for adults to pluck at their feathers.

I would check this little over just to make sure she has no other injuries. Let her eat/drink then put them back where the adults can see them and continue with a slow integration.

Ok cool thank you!

We did 3 week of see but no touch, 3 days of 9 week olds mingle with younger ones in coop (those ones run freely after the first week cuz hens kept getting in with them and roughing them up) while hens were in run... two days ago finally let everyone out and other then the get out of my way pecks or out of my space, we had no issue. Today Mustard the Orp got into the old brooder which i left in and open for escape areas, and cornered the one pictured. She was literally on top her ,Sesame wasn't fighting ,was cowering, and still Mustard was pecking and ripping out beak full of feathers!
I've read tons about pecking order but this seems way more? Right now Mustard is in a cage in the coop since I can't trust her for the night. She has food and water.... maybe i need to refo the inside? And redo the see and no touch thing?
I'll try and pist this in behavior area too.
 

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