Chicken 911 !!! Please help....

[eggxentric]

Yesterday tried to trim the incredibly long overhanging beak (it curled under the lower beak!) on my Ameracauna pullet....not much of a trim, but enough to cause bleeding (aghhhhh). I made sure the bleeding stopped right away. Today, she is quiet, listless, not eating much, although she does drink more than she eats. I have moved her out of the hen house and into a cage in my office, to be kept warm and quiet with direct access to her own supply of feed/water etc.

Here is my question:
How do I know if she's developed an infection from this procedure? Is her behavior due to pain and suffering and will she ever recover her spunky behavior? I am wracked with guilt and pain..... I thought it was like trimming a cat's toes.

Thanks!

 

[jeaucamom]

I don't know how to tell if she has an infection, so hopefully someone else will weigh in on that, but in the mean time, I would be giving her some Poly-vi-sol. The baby vitamins. You can give three drops up to three times a day to keep her strength and nutrition up.

I'm sorry this happened! But I'm sure she'll be fine in no time!!

 

[sweetie54]

sorry i have never done that??????

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

Im pretty sure the beak trimming doesnt have anything to do with how she is acting. You just got into the quick when you was trimming. Its not a major thing at all. It might be just a little sore for a day or so. But nothing to worry about.

 

[MoodyChicken]

Unless she's in really bad pain, which wouldn't result from a beak trimming, she wouldn't act like this. She's probably sick and the timing is just coincidental. Check that the beak isn't cracked, that would cause some pain, but I don't think it would be enough to change her mood. Watch for new symptoms.

 

[emilyweck]

Have you tried giving her polyvisol? Since her beak was curved, could she have had a hard time eating. Maybe she's just needing a boost to get her up to speed.

 

[eggxentric]

After a day of rest, little chicken is back to her old self! I gave her vitamins in her water, she slept and occassionally ate out of my hand yesterday. Today she's back in action and has rejoined her siblings!
Thank you all for your great advice and counsel!
You are awesome!!

 

[emilyweck]

HOORAY!

 

[sweetie54]

yipeeeeeee

 

[LynneP]

For this one and your other birds, is there some concrete/gritty rock/other abrasive in your coop as well as your run? Most hens will rub against it several times a day to keep their beaks trimmed. I dopn't know why this isn't mentioned more often- I was lucky to have someone mention it to me while we were building. It also helps with nails.

Glad your hen is doing well!