Chick lost top beak

[PittyLova]

We had 2 chicks slip by and get into the Turkey pen a couple of weeks ago. They both got pecked in the face while trying to eat from their feeder. Top breaks ended up gone on both.

I read through here and see a lot of "put them out of their misery" types of suggestions. That's what my first thought was as well, especially because they lost them pretty high up. I ended up taking them inside and putting them with our youngest chicks that are in on heat so they wouldn't get bullied at all. They drink well if the water is deep enough and their crops always seem to have something in them. I did start soaking some food and giving it to them twice a day just to be sure they were getting enough. They're growing and pooping, and like I said always have full crops. Now that they've been doing well I put them back out with the older chicks and they seem to be still doing well.

Has anybody actually had a chicken survive with the missing part of their beak? Where it happened as chicks could it possible grow in enough for them to be almost normal? They've both grown some as they were clean off just below where the nostrils are, but are a little bit longer now. Of course it was two of our friendliest birds that it happened to!

 

[chrissynemetz]

I've never had that happen so I don't really know if their beaks will grow or not. But if they seem to be eating and drinking ok, and as long as they aren't getting bullied, I would just watch and see. I'm pulling for them!

 

[AmyJane725]

Oh God, that's horrible. Poor things. Yeah, if they don't seem to be suffering I don't see a reason to kill them. Just keep an eye on them. I hope their beaks grow back. I've never even heard of having a beak pecked off before. Do you have pictures?

 

[PittyLova]

I'll try to get some pictures when I go back outside today. They seem to be getting on fine. I'm hoping it grows in so they can actually get bugs and what not. I'm pretty sure they don't get anything from the ground itself. They kind of scoop the food from the feeders to get it. I feel bad seeing them scratch and peck knowing they're not actually getting anything from it. I never realized it could happen either until it did. I searched online and came across several posts of older birds losing part of their beaks in an injury. Just haven't found anything chick related.

 

[Willowspirit]

I knew a goose once that was missing most of the top of his beak. He had to have his food poured in his bottom beak a couple of times a day. He lived for many years.

 

[MilleFleurs]

I'm having somewhat of the same issue. Today when I came home I discovered that one of my poults had a pushed in beak. Little did I know that the tip had come off, and now looking in the brooder I see that there is another little turkey that's having the same problem. Is this injury too far up to heal?

 

[PittyLova]

This is one of the 2 chicks. The top is more rounded now after pecking for food and what not. The jersey giant is pretty much exactly the same

 

[Wyorp Rock]

This is one of the 2 chicks. The top is more rounded now after pecking for food and what not. The jersey giant is pretty much exactly the sameView attachment 1771491

They kind of scoop the food from the feeders to get it. I feel bad seeing them scratch and peck knowing they're not actually getting anything from it.

@PittyLova with them being so young, it's possible the top beak may grow out a little more - you never know - let's hope

Sounds like they have learned to eat/drink o.k. You may also want to offer them a little wet feed so they have an easier time scooping up food. Just add a little warm water to some chick starter and let is soak for about 1/2 hour.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Ouch, and I don't foresee a problem with half-beaks. Chickens that are raised by BIG-BUSINESS routinely lop off (burn off?) half of a pullet's beak to stop pecking issues. It's incredibly painful to the birds, and I personally think that when done by humans that it's immoral... but ya know, that's my viewpoint. I guess big-business can say that it's just as immoral to allow bored hens to peck the heck out of each other all day... Two sides to the coin. So yeah, if they're not struggling to eat and drink, and don't seem to be otherwise inconvenienced by it, I think they're gonna make it.

 

[PittyLova]

@PittyLova with them being so young, it's possible the top beak may grow out a little more - you never know - let's hope

Sounds like they have learned to eat/drink o.k. You may also want to offer them a little wet feed so they have an easier time scooping up food. Just add a little warm water to some chick starter and let is soak for about 1/2 hour.

I'm hoping they grow out some more. Guess we shall see! I have been offering soaked feed twice a day just to be sure. I guess the benefit is they're super friendly now. We got a lot of babies this year so not a ton of 1 on 1 time with them. Toothless (too soon?) And Mr Flufferton wont leave us alone when we're out with them.