Cracked beak with blood caked underneath

[Eggcessive]

That sounds reasonable to wait a bit. Torpedo feeding or crop feeding may be something to try if she has a problem getting enough to eat and drink. Most vet links recommend pain control, and that usually means meloxicam or medicam, which is a prescription drug that some might have leftover from their dog or cat. Aspirin might cause more bleeding. Here is some info on torpedo feeding:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...eeding-what-is-it-and-when-to-use-it.1532744/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/crop-feeding.75454/

 

[bunnochick]

That sounds reasonable to wait a bit. Torpedo feeding or crop feeding may be something to try if she has a problem getting enough to eat and drink. Most vet links recommend pain control, and that usually means meloxicam or medicam, which is a prescription drug that some might have leftover from their dog or cat. Aspirin might cause more bleeding. Here is some info on torpedo feeding:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...eeding-what-is-it-and-when-to-use-it.1532744/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/crop-feeding.75454/

Thanks for the resources. Thankfully she is able to eat mash and scrambled eggs. Saving these links in case it gets worse.

 

[bunnochick]

That sounds reasonable to wait a bit. Torpedo feeding or crop feeding may be something to try if she has a problem getting enough to eat and drink. Most vet links recommend pain control, and that usually means meloxicam or medicam, which is a prescription drug that some might have leftover from their dog or cat. Aspirin might cause more bleeding. Here is some info on torpedo feeding:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...eeding-what-is-it-and-when-to-use-it.1532744/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/crop-feeding.75454/

What about a small amount of crushed ibuprofen for pain? I'm sure she's in pain but she is acting completely normal

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'd wait and let the top layer peel/fall of on its own.

Provide her with wet mushy feed and see that she's drinking.

 

[bunnochick]

I'd wait and let the top layer peel/fall of on its own.

Provide her with wet mushy feed and see that she's drinking.

Thank you. Would you recommend a vet visit? The closest one is 30 minutes away and I can't be seen until Thursday (today is Monday). She is eating, drinking, acting completely normal. She is able to close her beak a bit more than when I first discovered her injury so I do think she is improving. I'm worried about the long car ride stressing her while she is injured.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you. Would you recommend a vet visit? The closest one is 30 minutes away and I can't be seen until Thursday (today is Monday). She is eating, drinking, acting completely normal. She is able to close her beak a bit more than when I first discovered her injury so I do think she is improving. I'm worried about the long car ride stressing her while she is injured.

She is eating, drinking, acting completely normal. She is able to close her beak a bit more than when I first discovered her injury so I do think she is improving.

It's up to you to determine if vet care is needed.

 

[bunnochick]

My poor girl somehow injured her beak. I tried cleaning it this morning but the blood is caked under her broken beak. I sprayed vetricyn on it.

She laid an egg this morning, is preening herself now, and generally is acting okay. She can't eat hard pellets or mealworms but she can eat mushy fermented food and she ate a whole scrambled egg. She can't close her beak all the way which is why she's struggling to eat.

I called a bunch of vets and none are available until at least 6 days from now. What should I do? I will continue hand feeding and spraying vetricyn but I'm worried about not getting vet care because this seems pretty bad.

An update for anyone who may be in a similar situation:
It's now been 2 full weeks since her injury. The broken part of the beak fell off at about 1.5 weeks. It looked pretty bad before it fell off - black due to dirt and old blood. The new portion is growing back but slowly. She can only eat mash and can't pick up mealworms or do much foraging although she is trying. I've been adding crushed calcium supplements into her food since she can't pick up oyster shells.
She did sleep a bit more than usual and she's not her usual screaming self but other than that she has been eating, drinking, laying eggs normally. I've been spraying with vetricyn every day and applying big globs of Neosporin every 2-4 days. I wasn't able to see a vet but luckily nature is a great healer and chickens are resilient. I'll post an update when she's fully recovered.

 

[WingItRanch]

An update for anyone who may be in a similar situation:
It's now been 2 full weeks since her injury. The broken part of the beak fell off at about 1.5 weeks. It looked pretty bad before it fell off - black due to dirt and old blood. The new portion is growing back but slowly. She can only eat mash and can't pick up mealworms or do much foraging although she is trying. I've been adding crushed calcium supplements into her food since she can't pick up oyster shells.
She did sleep a bit more than usual and she's not her usual screaming self but other than that she has been eating, drinking, laying eggs normally. I've been spraying with vetricyn every day and applying big globs of Neosporin every 2-4 days. I wasn't able to see a vet but luckily nature is a great healer and chickens are resilient. I'll post an update when she's fully recovered.

That is so great to hear! Thank you for the update and good job helping her through this!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

An update for anyone who may be in a similar situation:
It's now been 2 full weeks since her injury. The broken part of the beak fell off at about 1.5 weeks. It looked pretty bad before it fell off - black due to dirt and old blood. The new portion is growing back but slowly. She can only eat mash and can't pick up mealworms or do much foraging although she is trying. I've been adding crushed calcium supplements into her food since she can't pick up oyster shells.
She did sleep a bit more than usual and she's not her usual screaming self but other than that she has been eating, drinking, laying eggs normally. I've been spraying with vetricyn every day and applying big globs of Neosporin every 2-4 days. I wasn't able to see a vet but luckily nature is a great healer and chickens are resilient. I'll post an update when she's fully recovered.

Glad to hear she's healing up.

Do you have a photo of what her beak looks like now?

If the beak doesn't look infected, then I'd let it dry so the keratin hardens up, the ointment may be keeping it soft and pliable(?)

 

[WingItRanch]

@bunnochick how is she doing? Are you able to share some pictures of when the broken bit fell off and how it's recovering? Thanks!