Chipped beak a problem?

[mfsakc]

I noticed this evening while having a talk with my girlz that one of them has a partially chipped beak. One side of the end has been chipped off. It's very noticeable. She was eating while I watched her. Didn't see her take a drink. One of the other pullets was pecking at her a bit around the face.

Do I need to worry?

 

[robin416]

How old are they? If they're quite young the picking is usually curiosity and doesn't normally mean anything bad.

If it looks bad enough to give you concern then snip the part that is left off with a pair of nail clippers. I have clippers that have a stop built in to the back of them to prevent trimming to far.

 

[mfsakc]

All are 19 weeks old. In fact we got our first egg today! It might even have been the hen with the chipped beak. She is one of two that "look" ready to lay.

 

[robin416]

A little old to be face picking. Keep an eye on that hen to see if it continues.

Sometimes one will reach up and do a little baby peck, doesn't mean anything at all but sometimes it means someone has a bad attitude. Or she saw something on that girl's face that looked edible.

 

[mfsakc]

Thank you robin416 - I will keep an eye on her.