Debeaked Chickens-Please Help Me!

[2manyhats]

You are awesome! It is so sweet of you to take on that special responsibility. God bless.

 

[ChooksinIowa]

Thanks to all who have thanked me for taking her! But really, it is she who will bring the joy to my life, and I am thankful that I found her on the shelter website, and was thus privileged to bring her into my life. I have always had a soft spot for animals, and I know we can't save them all, but adding just one chicken is an easy way for me to do my part.

After all, seeing her there in a cage next to the rabbits, looking all out of place and missing her beak and being so thin, I could not even think about leaving without her. She won me over at first sight!

Claire

 

[ChooksinIowa]

Here are some details of Red Rosie's feathers. Her hackle feathers are much darker than the rest of her. The tail/back feathers appear to have some lacing. Her leg feathers include white ones. I just have no clue what kind of chicken she is!

 

[miss_thenorth]

She looks like a red sexlink.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

The white dandruff is just from the new feathers growing in. As feathers grow in, they are all compressed inside a narrow, protective tube. After they are done actively growing, the blood supply recedes from the feather and the outer cover is preened off, making the little flakes. This frees the feather to fluff out into it's typical shape. While feathers are growing in they are referred to as pin feathers or blood feathers.

You are taking wonderful care of her. It sounds like she is doing well and very happy to be with you. She sounds like such a sweet girl.

 

[Lunachick]

I agree - red sexlink - that's what I have. They are very sweet.

 

[ChooksinIowa]

Thanks so much for the identity confirmation! I'm pleased to know what she is now. I'm glad I named her Red Rosie because it fits with her breed too!

Thanks for the information on the feather growing. I didn't know about that yet, so it is useful information. The other chickens I have haven't done that (yet) but maybe it is more prevalent during molting or when they are stressed, etc. She is still losing quite a few feathers, but I can see the new ones growing in. Some of her feathers under her belly were matted together. I trimmed a few of the bad ones to get rid of the icky stuff. I think the dust bathing is helping too.

And, probably too much information, but since I'm in the presence of those who will understand....she had excellent, normal looking stools this morning. Nice and firm and looked good, so I can tell she is eating well (otherwise what would be coming out?!) and that she doesn't seem to have any infections affecting her digestive system. The ones yesterday and the day before had been a bit dodgy looking, but I think she was stressed and all.

Claire

 

[lillyflower]

Hi there! I am new and was unable to start a new thread. However my question is similar to this line. My sister gave me a hen that she got at an auction. the hen was debeaked and doing fine but now we have noticed that her beak seams to have grown back in but it is crooked and makes it difficult for her to eat. Should I get the crooked part cut off or just try to feed her seperately from the rest of the flock?

Thank you!

 

[jadelhoch]

Thaks for the information regarding debeaking, I purchased some from a local farmer. They lay real nice eggs and seem healthy. I did start to give them cat food smached and soaked a few times a week, what i do see is the yokes are getting real orange, is that OK?

 

[seminolewind]

Hi there! I am new and was unable to start a new thread. However my question is similar to this line. My sister gave me a hen that she got at an auction. the hen was debeaked and doing fine but now we have noticed that her beak seams to have grown back in but it is crooked and makes it difficult for her to eat. Should I get the crooked part cut off or just try to feed her seperately from the rest of the flock?

Thank you!

I got a debeaked hen once. I was upset, then I decided to not tell her or let her know, and make sure that the food and water bowls are deep enough. She was nice and fat and clean while she lived.