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Chicken beak problem?

Discussion in 'Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures' started by Tylexie, May 20, 2017.

Most Liked Posts
  1. May 20, 2017 #1
    Tylexie

    Tylexie Out Of The Brooder

    63
    11
    46
    Dec 11, 2015
    New York
    One of my 11 week old chickens has a little bit of a beak problem. The beak is "split" at the end, so instead of coming to a point, it forks off into 2 ends. I don't know if this is a problem, or what do do about it. Please help!

    P.S. she had a flat-ended beak as a chick... did that somehow lead to this problem?

    Pictures of the beak:
    IMG_6359.PNG
    IMG_6356.JPG.jpeg

    When she was a chick:
    IMG_5883.JPG.jpg

    She looks pretty healthy, so it can't be causing her too many problems, right?:
    IMG_6288.JPG.jpeg
     
  3. May 20, 2017 #2
    Wyorp Rock

    Wyorp Rock Overrun With Chickens Premium Member

    8,781
    2,035
    356
    Sep 20, 2015
    Southern N.C. Mountains
    I really don't know if you should leave it be or try to repair it:confused:

    I would worry that it could split further. I did find this - it's interesting for sure, the OP said after a month it had grown out and they trimmed the excess - something you may want to look at https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-with-a-split-beak-solution.712638/

    There are various ways to "repair" a beak that is broken, but a split would be difficult - here's one method of repair http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/01/repairing-chickens-broken-beak.html

    If you do decide to try some type of repair/treatment, please let us know what you did and how it works, it would be helpful to others.
     
  5. May 20, 2017 #3
    Tylexie

    Tylexie Out Of The Brooder

    63
    11
    46
    Dec 11, 2015
    New York
    Thanks! If I do decide to trim the beak, does anyone know how to do it? Should I trim both the top and the bottom, to keep them even, or just the split top? What should I use to trim it? How much should I trim? Is the split too long to be able to trim in one go?

    Sorry for all the questions! I just want to make sure I don't hurt her if I trim it.
     
    Last edited: May 20, 2017

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