debeaking gone wrong

[Smyles]

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum and in need of some help. I got a batch of 6 week old pulletts a month ago and noticed that they were all debeaked. All of the except one are now laying and growing big and strong. All the other hens are almost two timed her size. She does not have a top beak and the is a lump on her bottom beak. I don't think she is getting enough to eat or drink. HELP!!!!

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[Odelia]

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum and in need of some help. I got a batch of 6 week old pulletts a month ago and noticed that they were all debeaked. All of the except one are now laying and growing big and strong. All the other hens are almost two timed her size. She does not have a top beak and the is a lump on her bottom beak. I don't think she is getting enough to eat or drink. HELP!!!!

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Where did you buy those poor birds! Also the age you list for your birds is wrong. If you bought 6 week old birds a month ago they would be 10 weeks old...2.5 months old. Chickens don't start laying until they are 5-6 months old and sometimes even older depending on the weather. Other than feed her by hand I don't believe you can do anything for her. I am sorry, but she doesn't have the ability to care for herself and you can't get her a new beak. Ok I guess a doctor could make her one, but that would be one very expensive chicken. If you do not wish to feed her every day I would consider culling her. Letting her slowly starve to death isn't a kindness.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[Smyles]

I am in Jamaica. I got them from a hatchery here. Sorry I meant 6 months not weeks.Someone recommended trying different types of feed and deeper containers.

 

[theoldchick]

If you want to keep this hen, you might have to isolate her from the flock so she can get food. You might have to try different food textures to see what she will be able to easily ingest. See if she can eat chopped kale or other greens to supplement her diet. She definitely will have problems picking up seed from the ground and you can try using a feeding station similar to a bird feeding station. You can make your own by using a plastic drinking bottle with holes in the side. Hang it at a level that she can easily reach yet take advantage of gravity to allow her to get the seed in her gullet.


Observe this hen closely as her mutilated beak might not even be able to open properly. And remember liquid diets are messy and she make choke if the liquid goes down her trachea. She will be unable to preen herself and you'll have to keep her clean of debris. However, the fact that she has lived this long makes me think she's a tough gal who would appreciate a little extra help.

And see if this link works. This hen has a prosthetic beak!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-21790175

 

[Peep-Chicken]

Read this about a chicken who lost her beak.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/848424/plese-help-chickens-beak-got-bit-off

 

[drumstick diva]

I agree if she has hung on this long, she deserves some assistance. You could see if she does better with finer ground feed, or dampened feed rather than dry. Have you watched her eat to see what difficulty she has.? Is she able to drink well enough? I think she would do better with feed piled up like a hill, so she has a better chance of grasping some.

Battery hens are crammed into tiny cages and debeaked - they manage to survive and produce eggs. No one is aiding them. I have to think your chick can do so too. Her problem may be the others bully her away from the feeder.

 

[Book Em Danno25]

So sorry to hear about her!!

 

[BantamLover21]

I'm glad you joined our community!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Sorry about your hen, hope she does well for you.