Chicken underbite - how to fix?

[dvanos]

I have a chicken with an underbite. It seems a bit smaller than the others, which makes me think she’s not eating. Any suggestions on what’s happened and what to do?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Has she always looked like this? Either the top beak broke at some point or maybe she was poorly debeaked at the hatchery?

Wet feed would be easier for her to pick up and eat vs. dry.

 

[dvanos]

Has she always looked like this? Either the top beak broke at some point or maybe she was poorly debeaked at the hatchery?

Wet feed would be easier for her to pick up and eat vs. dry.

I didn’t notice it when we first got her at 16 weeks, but has gotten worse since then. It seems like the top is cracked. Wet feed is a good idea.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I didn’t notice it when we first got her at 16 weeks, but has gotten worse since then. It seems like the top is cracked. Wet feed is a good idea.

Yeah unfortunately not much can be done to "fix" it - best case scenario she regrows the top beak and fixes it herself. The bottom beak appears to be about normal length right now but may need to be filed down a tiny bit as she grows, since she may not be able to whittle it herself. Otherwise make sure she can drink ok (i.e. nipples may be difficult to use) and yes wet feed should make it easier for her to scoop up food vs. dry pellets.

 

[Briarhopper Ranch]

I have a chicken with an underbite. It seems a bit smaller than the others, which makes me think she’s not eating. Any suggestions on what’s happened and what to do?

One of our Houdans had an underbite when she was young (brought her home at 8 weeks old). We *gently* trimmed the lower beak twice with a sanitized nail clippers. (More like “shaving” than clipping.) we also ensure that she always has a honing rock / brick available. Her underbite now is largely a thing of the past.

Agree with other advice to ensure she’s eating / drinking normally.

 

[Eggcessive]

She looks like her beak was trimmed, which is a procedure some hatcheries do to prevent them from pecking each other. I would moisten a small amount of her feed daily to see if that is easier for her to eat.

 

[dvanos]

She looks like her beak was trimmed, which is a procedure some hatcheries do to prevent them from pecking each other. I would moisten a small amount of her feed daily to see if that is easier for her to eat.

That’s so sad, I hate to think about what conditions she must have grown up in…Good idea re feed

 

[dvanos]

One of our Houdans had an underbite when she was young (brought her home at 8 weeks old). We *gently* trimmed the lower beak twice with a sanitized nail clippers. (More like “shaving” than clipping.) we also ensure that she always has a honing rock / brick available. Her underbite now is largely a thing of the past.

Agree with other advice to ensure she’s eating / drinking normally.

Thank you, we’ll try that (slowly slowly!)