Chipped beak

[BurbMum]

Hey all,

I just noticed today that my Olive Egger Olivia has a little chip in her beak. She’s 17 weeks old and seems to be eating fine…

not sure if it’s from the frozen treats they had the last few days (got to 103 degrees this week), a collision, or if one the older girls pecked her good.

Will it grow back? Do I need to do anything…?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Eggcessive]

It should grow back eventually, but it may be painful. Is she eating and drinking? I would watch to see if she is injuring the comb on chicken wire or metal fencing, or if there are any sharp feeders.

 

[NatJ]

Will it grow back? Do I need to do anything…?

A chicken's beak grows from the base, and gradually gets worn away at the tip. So I would expect the damaged spot to slowly move down the beak toward the tip, and eventually be gone. The whole process might take several months. There is really nothing you can do to speed it up.

 

[BurbMum]

A chicken's beak grows from the base, and gradually gets worn away at the tip. So I would expect the damaged spot to slowly move down the beak toward the tip, and eventually be gone. The whole process might take several months. There is really nothing you can do to speed it up.

Ah, like a fingernail? Makes sense... thanks.

 

[BurbMum]

A chicken's beak grows from the base, and gradually gets worn away at the tip. So I would expect the damaged spot to slowly move down the beak toward the tip, and eventually be gone. The whole process might take several months. There is really nothing you can do to speed it up.

It should grow back eventually, but it may be painful. Is she eating and drinking? I would watch to see if she is injuring the comb on chicken wire or metal fencing, or if there are any sharp feeders.

She seems to be eating and drinking and preening with no issues.

She might have tried to peck a bug through the hardwire cloth? Or maybe crashed into something trying to escape the big girls? I didn’t find any issues on the feeders.

I saw something about necrotic tissue on beaks on the web, do I need to worry about that? I didn’t see any blood, but the dark part at the top of the injury has me a little concerned.

 

[NatJ]

Ah, like a fingernail? Makes sense... thanks.

Yes, exactly

She seems to be eating and drinking and preening with no issues.

That's good!

She might have tried to peck a bug through the hardwire cloth? Or maybe crashed into something trying to escape the big girls? I didn’t find any issues on the feeders.

Any of those are possibillities.

I saw something about necrotic tissue on beaks on the web, do I need to worry about that? I didn’t see any blood, but the dark part at the top of the injury has me a little concerned.

Unfortunately, I don't know for sure about that.
But I don't see anything really concerning in the pictures.

Some chicken beaks do have dark parts, just like some dogs have black toenails. And I can't tell for sure in the picture, but it could be a small scab. That would also look dark. So there are several possible explanations for dark spots that would not be a problem.

You will probably just have to watch and see. If the pullet keeps eating and acting normal, and the spot moves slowly down toward the end of the beak, I would not worry. If the spot gets larger then something is continuing to cause trouble (whether that would be ongoing damage, or necrotic tissue, or something else, would be the puzzle to solve if that happens.)

 

[BurbMum]

Yes, exactly


That's good!


Any of those are possibillities.


Unfortunately, I don't know for sure about that.
But I don't see anything really concerning in the pictures.

Some chicken beaks do have dark parts, just like some dogs have black toenails. And I can't tell for sure in the picture, but it could be a small scab. That would also look dark. So there are several possible explanations for dark spots that would not be a problem.

You will probably just have to watch and see. If the pullet keeps eating and acting normal, and the spot moves slowly down toward the end of the beak, I would not worry. If the spot gets larger then something is continuing to cause trouble (whether that would be ongoing damage, or necrotic tissue, or something else, would be the puzzle to solve if that happens.)

Thank you!