Broody Gal- not healing , growing back feathers...and......

[Momma_Cluck]

We have a OE Banty Gal who went broody 7 weeks ago. We brought her inside and she's been living a very pampered life while she hatched 1 egg (not hers).

The chick had serious problems in hatching-- so we asisted then tried giving the egg & exposed chick back to her-- but she attacked it.. so we are raising him/her separately.

Heres my question tho: In the 7 weeks that she's been inside, some small injuries she had are scabbed over- but not healing, and none of the feathers from the back of her head that the roosters yanked are growing back at all...

Is this due to her eating less??

Also-- her beak has grown! Seems just the top has grown a thin curve down, like a hook, and it has gotten a chip in it...seems like it would make picking-up small feed difficult for her... Should I trim the tip????

Thank You Much for your help Folks! You've all gotten us thru some difficult and nerve-wracking times!!

 

[BeckyLa]

I think you did right by taking the chick away and raising it separately. You might want to put a stuffy and a mirror in with it, or better yet pick up some day old chicks, so it won't be lonely and cheep constantly.

As for the mother, it sounds to me like she needs to be put back outside where she can scratch the ground and wear down her beak. At least that is what I would do since I have absolutely no experience trimming beaks. If the group will not accept her back and peck her constantly till she bleeds, you might want to use wire or a cage in the coop to separate her from the flock, but where they can see each other, for a week or two. After that they should accept her though in any case there will be that good ole pecking order stuff going on for a while.

 

[LynneP]

For the beak you could offer a granite rock or a brick and see if she uses it to trim. Cinder block in the coop is also a good tool for this. If not trim her. I get very nervous trimming beaks or dog nails, gives me the heebie-jeebies!

As for diet she may be low in protein and would benefit from canned cat food, cooked ground meat, fish, boiled egg or yogurt. She's been broody so long her immune system may be in dire straits and she needs a dietary boost to continue feather growth and tissue healing. Make sure she gets grit and oyster with any foods you may give her.