Beak loss on all chicks

[AAE Chickens]

I'm new to raising chickens. My brother-in-law and I each purchased golden comets at T.S. On March 5. My 4 chicks and his 3 have all shed/lossed their beaks, top and bottom. No blood, no scabs, no pain or sensitivity issues. They are eating and drinking normally. Occasional runny droppings. I have seen one of my birds occasionally "gape" and they all shake their heads as is mentioned with gapeworm symptoms. I read though that many other infections can cause such symptoms. I can not find ANYTHING despite hours of online reading that mentions beak loss. My birds still have energy at times but, other times seem somewhat listless (maybe just tired) as they will let their wings hang while sleeping.

Maybe some of this is normal, I just don't have other experience with chicks for comparison. The loss of beak seem very strange and I can find any information anywhere.

Any solid information or thoughts from more experienced BYC's will be greatly appreciated.

 

[ladycat]

Is it possible to post a pic? I've never heard of that problem.

 

[mzstre]

Definitely post pics if you are able. I have never heard of this either.

Have you thought about emailing the avian veterinary program at a university? The vets at LSU have been helpful to me.

 

[AAE Chickens]

Each chick would first lose top or bottom beak and would then lose the other within another 24 hours.

 

[AAE Chickens]

The beak on the the picture I posted is brown along the broken rim. Two are not as brown and one is perfectly yellow.

 

[ladycat]

Wow, I've been around chickens my whole life and I never saw any lose their beaks. That has me mystified.

 

[ChickenLegs13]

Looks like he's been to the infrared debeaker.

 

[aart]

Wow, that is strange...never seen it either. I'd find out what hatchery the TS got the chicks from, ask the manager and report what has happened.

The gaping and stretching of the neck is often just the bird 'adjusting' the crop, not necessarily gapeworm.

 

[TLWR]

Call your TSC and ask what hatchery they received them from. Then call that hatchery and let them know what happened and see if they have any advice.

 

[DoubletakeFarm]

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.