Broken/cracked Beak UPDATE

[barngem]

This moring when my little hen came out of the coop she had a cracked beak

She must have done it yesterday sometime. The only thing I can think is that she jumped off the perch and hit her face. She is kinda top heavy and doesnt do that very well. I dont want her to do it again either.
They roosted up around 6:30 and I never looked at her or her rooster. The other chickens were still out but they always stay out later than the other two. Anyway I read some things here but I cant imagine putting super glue on her without running the risk of glueing her beak together completely. I offered her some soft catfood and she ate that and so I offered her some feed that I added water to and made a mush. Apparently she can eat ok. I am wondering what to do. She keeps scrapeing it on the ground I would imagine it feels odd. It did bleed a bit but not much and she seems lively. I have a dog coop in the pen and she did go in there and set down after walking around some and her rooster is staying by her, no one is bothering her. What should I do. Can it be repaired? Will it heal? Should I put anything on it?
I just want to cry. I can post pics if that will help too.

 

[Quillgirl]

Seems to me a beak is sort of like a very thick fingernail or a turtle's shell. To repair a cracked turtle's shell (or a fingernail) you would clean and dry the crack really well using alcohol to make sure there is no oil or bacteria in the crack or surrounding area. Then you would take super-glue and carefully let it fill the crack then press down with a toothpick to make sure the edges stick in place. Then you might sand a bit with an emery board if there is excess. Just make sure you don't glue the beak shut!
Not sure how this would be accomplished with a moving bird, or how superglue fumes affect health, but it might be worth a try.

 

[meriruka]

Unless she tore a huge section of it off or something, she should be fine.
She's eating, no bleeding, nobody's picking at her. I don't think you need to worry. Beaks are a lot like fingernails, so it'll probably grow back. If you're still concerned, post a pic, someone probably had a similar experience & can tell you how long it will take to heal.

 

[barngem]

It bled a tiny bit it looks like but not a lot. I will post a pic. It is offset a bit from the bottom. I feel better knowing they are a lot like fingernails though. She is good and fat right now so that should help her through this too. Poor girl. I just love her to peices.

Here is a picture its hard to tell cause its kinda blurry I tried to circle the crack and you can see how the beak is offset. I talked to my dad. He used to raise quail and pheasant and he said it should grow back since the beaks do grow like fingernails. I hope he is right. She is eating fine and really isnt worse for the wear. I am a worrier thow.

 

[barngem]

bump

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

I would probably use the superglue on that beak. It will hold it together for a long time and perhaps it will heal on it's on.

The most important thing is getting someone to hold her VERY still so you don't glue her beak shut...or your fingers to her beak

Good luck...

 

[Quillgirl]

Yea. I'd do superglue. Try this:
Take a gym sock and cut a hole in the tip. Put it over her head with the beak sticking through the hole, but eyes covered. THat should keep her still enough, but have someone wrap her wings and body in a towel so they don't flap. Clean the beak with alcohol, then take tweezers or surgical clamp and carefully line the beak parts back up (pop it out if stuck), put a popsicle stick between her beak to keep it open, touch the superglue to the cracked area so that it seeps into the crack, then hold the crack together with the tweezers until the glue is set (45 seconds or so.) Should be good after that. Just like repairing a nail.

One worry that is hard to see is how close the crack is to the nasal opening. You would not want to clog that up with superglue.

 

[jenjscott]

I don't know about growing back on beaks. They debeak them at the hatcheries and they never grow back. It may depend on how far back they break

 

[barngem]

I dont know about the beak growing back thing either since this is quite the ways up.

It is not right next to her nose but close.

I will have to see if my other half can help me and we will try to fix it tonight. Thank you for the help everyone.

 

[SandyK]

I would call the vet and see what he says first. You don't want to do more harm than good. He might have other suggestions. We have an avian vet local that we use for my parrots. We see all kinds of critters in his office when we go in. He is great.

Sandy