Chicken's beak turned white

[hugitnotnugget]

She was sick for a couple days. She laid their for one day with out eating or drinking but she seemed to make a good recovery. She is acting great now but her beak has changed color. She is a jersey giant and her beak was all pure black. I came home from college and saw that her beak had turned mostly white in the five days I was away. She has some small white spots on her face that she got in the fall. She is acting great but I am puzzled by this. Any ideas on what it could be?

 

[MrsBrooke]

Do you have any before and after pictures?

I've never heard of anything like this and Google isn't really helping, either.

MrsB

 

[hugitnotnugget]

It is the weirdest thing!

 

[Dreamleaf39]

The top beak looks different -- almost chipped (but maybe I'm just imagining it?). Was there any injury? Maybe there's a lack of blood flow? Just a guess. It is very strange.

 

[hugitnotnugget]

No damage. Blood flow could be the reason

 

[MrsBrooke]

I also see some kind of little chip right where the top curves down to meet the lower beak. It could totally be debris or something, and if you say there is no damage, then I will take you at your word.

I'll be honest... I feel she looks exhausted in the first picture. Her eyes and face are tired.

Have you checked her over for lice/mites and their nits (eggs) around the base of her feathers by her vent? That's their favorite hiding place.

When was the last time you wormed your flock?

It's almost like she's shrinking into herself... I see her wattles and comb are shriveled (or flopped over... I can't tell from this angle), her face is paler, and, of course, ......... her beak......

The only thing I can think of that would be THIS advanced after only five days would be acute trauma (like a deep bruise)... Is it possible she got her beak stuck in something while you were away? A coop or run door? A window? Someone accidentally stepped on her?

Chickens explore the world with their beaks, so it's easy for them to get injured that way.

Outside of trauma/injury, I'd lean towards some type of deficiency or circulatory issue... But I've never seen anything like this.

I would separate her and bring her inside the garage in a dog crate or something similar... Keep her in a quiet, warm, calm environment. Feed her the normal ration and include some boiled egg to whet her appetite.

Sorry I can't be of more help... @casportpony , @Eggcessive , @enola ... Have y'all seen anything like this before??

Edit to add: I bet her beak is tender, no matter what is going on. I might soak her food before you give it to her, so it's nice and soft and easy to pick up.

MrsB

 

[Dreamleaf39]

Is it maybe Favus? Would love someone else's input. I agree with MrsBrooke, though, that she doesn't look as healthy in the photo with the white beak.

One of our hens was attacked by a hawk and lost most of her beak. We add water to her crumble (and stir) so it becomes like an oatmeal -- much easier for her to eat while her beak is growing back. You may want to try that in case the beak is super tender (as MrsBrooke suggested).

 

[MrsBrooke]

Eehhh... It could be Favus, but that's a fungus usually found on combs, wattles, etc, and I would imagine if that was somehow the case that the beak might turn spongy or ... something? Think if your fingernail had a fungal infection.

Lotrimin is the treatment for that, but I can't speak to the safety of a chicken potentially ingesting it.

I still lean toward injury. Maybe she got pecked... really, really hard? :/

If you put your ear to her back, can you hear any wheezing, gurgling, or unusual noises when she breathes?

Does she have any lumps in her abdomen? Does she feel full like a water balloon or hard?

How is her vent? How are her poops?

Is she still eating and drinking?

MrsB

 

[hugitnotnugget]

Eehhh... It could be Favus, but that's a fungus usually found on combs, wattles, etc, and I would imagine if that was somehow the case that the beak might turn spongy or ... something? Think if your fingernail had a fungal infection.

Lotrimin is the treatment for that, but I can't speak to the safety of a chicken potentially ingesting it.

I still lean toward injury. Maybe she got pecked... really, really hard? :/

If you put your ear to her back, can you hear any wheezing, gurgling, or unusual noises when she breathes?

Does she have any lumps in her abdomen? Does she feel full like a water balloon or hard?

How is her vent? How are her poops?

Is she still eating and drinking?

MrsB

she's been eating and drinking good. But seems to have trouble getting poop out at times. The before picture is over a year old so maybe it's from age? She's 6 this July

 

[MrsBrooke]

Age could be a factor, absolutely.

Still, though... A color change this drastic in FIVE days??

When was the last time she laid an egg?

Does her abdomen feel hard or really soft and full like a water balloon? Can you feel any masses in her tummy or back by her vent?

Do her poops look healthy and solid? Are they runny? Do you see bright green? Anything look watery or clear?

How does her vent look? Could you post a picture?

I would consider isolating this chicken for further observation.

MrsB