Beak loss on all chicks

[SlipsWife]

Wow, that is bizarre. Especially for it to happen to all your chicks. My best guess is this: the hatchery your TSC got their chicks from screwed up the order. Your chicks were meant to go to a commercial operation and were debeaked before being shipped. That's the only thing I can come up with.

How is beak trimming done?

It is most commonly done using a hot blade beak trimming machine with an electrically heated blade. An infrared beak trimming method is also in use, particularly for beak trimming of day-olds in the hatchery. It uses a non-contact, high intensity, infrared energy source to treat the beak tissue. Initially the beak surface remains intact but after a few weeks the sharp hook of the beak erodes.

I think DoubletakeFarm nailed it. I bet there are a number of people that aren't to happy right about now with their chicks. Hopefully TSC can call and inform people of the mix up since you're suppose to sign the book, of course, they might only have people do that for diseases.

 

[aart]

Wow, that is bizarre. Especially for it to happen to all your chicks. My best guess is this: the hatchery your TSC got their chicks from screwed up the order. Your chicks were meant to go to a commercial operation and were debeaked before being shipped. That's the only thing I can come up with.

How is beak trimming done?

It is most commonly done using a hot blade beak trimming machine with an electrically heated blade. An infrared beak trimming method is also in use, particularly for beak trimming of day-olds in the hatchery. It uses a non-contact, high intensity, infrared energy source to treat the beak tissue. Initially the beak surface remains intact but after a few weeks the sharp hook of the beak erodes.

That's interesting....learn something new everyday...sure sounds like what happened to the OP's chicks.

 

[apgreen79]

When a chick is debeaked will it ever grow back?

 

[debid]

When a chick is debeaked will it ever grow back?

No, it's meant to be a permanent treatment. A person can trim the tip of an overgrown beak and it will grow back just like a fingernail but this type of beak trimming damages the tissue significantly. Commercial operations don't want to have to retrim every few months.

 

[apgreen79]

That is just plain sad

 

[MrsBachbach]

On another note, you mentioned the chicks were laying around with their wings drooped or open. Your heat souce may be too close and they don't have the room to escape the heat. Open wings are usually signs of overheated birds. Also them spending much of their time at the edges of the brooder are also a sign it's too hot in there. Too hot is as bad as too cold for chicks. Every week the temperature of the brooder needs to be lowered by 5 degrees until they are ready to be without the extra heat.

 

[tgerl]

Yup that is very sad...

 

[AAE Chickens]

Thank you all for your knowledge and concern. The infrared beak trimmer seams to be the only piece that fits the puzzle. I'm relieved to know there is no other type of affliction affecting our birds and they will live. Also disappointed though that they will not likely grow back their beaks to live as normal chicken. Do you feel they will be able to range feed with this limitation. I will contact TS this week and let them know of the problem.

Thank you Mrs. Bachbach. I have been monitoring the heat and they do have the ability to rest on the other end of the brooder but usually choose not to. I think after the beak problem I am just intensely looking for any sign of compromised health.