Chicken Beak deformity or debeaking? Will it cause problems?

[Sarasaurus89]

We have just brought home an 18 week old Bluebell from a local breeder, only to get her home and notice that she has a crooked beak - the top is shorter than the bottom and it is growing slightly lopsided.

The breeder was a local hobby breeder - nothing large scale, so I don't think she has been debeaked (at least I hope not). I had a close look at the other chickens and didn't notice anything - unfortunately I didn't look close enough at this girl!

She isn't having any trouble eating or drinking but I don't want this to be something that will get worse in time due to the beaks growing and wearing away unevenly.

I've texted the breeder to ask advice - does anyone here have any experience with this?

 

[nchls school]

Most likely you will have to trim that lower beak periodically. It is nothing to be overly concerned about. A finger nail clipper and a few seconds and that should do it. It's an easy job once you do it a few times.

Clip a bit at a time until you have some experience. Consider taming this hen so clipping is easier. They tame quickly once they know they are not being hurt.

My wife wishes to add that a fake finger nail clipper would work great. Can be purchased on ebay or Amazon.

 

[appps]

One of ours was similar but also a little crooked. Just keep a good eye on her when she eats and make sure she is getting plenty. Ours would look like it was eating but not as much was actually getting down her. Her beak didn't close properly though. Because ours was having problems I took her to the vet and they clipped back the bottom beak, it went into the main part so bled everywhere but a bit like debeaking it never grew back, the crooked sides need an extra trim with dog nail clippers occasionally though.

If she is eating fine and maintaining weight (weigh her so you have a benchmark) then I'd leave her be. If she is loosing weight then I'd trim a bit to see if it helps.

 

[Sarasaurus89]

Thanks everyone. It doesn't look too severe at the moment but my worry is that it will get worse as the chicken gets older, and I don't have enough experience to clip her beak! It does cross over quite a bit, and obviously if they are not wearing away evenly it will continue to grow longer and longer.

The breeder replied to say that he thinks it should sort itself out in time...I'm not sure whether I should risk it or take her back? As awful as I feel, I would be too scared to clip her beak regularly I think!

 

[nchls school]

Thanks everyone. It doesn't look too severe at the moment but my worry is that it will get worse as the chicken gets older, and I don't have enough experience to clip her beak! It does cross over quite a bit, and obviously if they are not wearing away evenly it will continue to grow longer and longer. 

The breeder replied to say that he thinks it should sort itself out in time...I'm not sure whether I should risk it or take her back? As awful as I feel, I would be too scared to clip her beak regularly I think!

We have parrots, cockatiels, chickens, and, of all things, a red squirrel, where nails, beak, and teeth need to be trimmed and clipped. If you like the hen, stop worrying, clipping its beak is no more hard than trimming your fingernails. At first, just clip a small amount at a time and make sure the clippers are sharp. And if you do get it a bit short, like your fingernail, it will grow back. It does not hurt the animal and if you get it too short the pain is short-lived. You would do fine.

 

[Emma Miriam]

If you're willing to pay for it, you could have a vet show you how to trim. I agree with other posters, though: just trim a bit at a time and have some stypic powder handy just in case. You might also be able to use a Dremel tool or file of some sort.

Here are some very helpful links on how to help scissor beaked chickens:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/03/scissor-beak-aka-crossed-beak-what-it.html
http://www.mypetchicken.com/backyard-chickens/chicken-help/Crossed-beak-overview-H254.aspx
http://www.mypetchicken.com/backyar...about-two-weeks-old-and-her-beak-is-H185.aspx

Hope that helps!

 

[Sarasaurus89]

Thanks for the info everyone.

Went to see the breeder today and it turns out these bluebells were bought in as chicks from another breeder - this breeder has apparently debeaked them very sad, but she can eat fine and it's not very noticeable. Hopefully the crookedness won't be too much of a problem, the breeder has offered to trim the beak in future if she needs it. It's so slight he had no idea they had been debeaked. He doesn't debeak his birds, it was only the bluebells that have had it done, hence why it wasn't noticeable in the other birds!