Duckling with half of bill gone

[AustralorpLover1004]

I have a duckling that hatched a day and a half ago that has half of the top of its bill gone… i’ve done a bit of research but I was just wondering if there’s anything else I can do for him? And is there any chance some of it might grow back? I’ve cleaned the bill with vetericyn and put a very small amount of ACV in his water. I watered down his food a lot, but he’s not quite sure how to go about eating it so i’ve been setting small bits of it on the bottom of his bill and he licks it up. He seems to be drinking water fine and is talkative. I’m mainly worried about him not eating enough… Is there anything else I can do for him?

 

[Miss Lydia]

@WVduckchick has a thread going, she maybe able to help.
What a precious duckling

He/she is going to have to learn to scoop. so deep dishes are best.

 

[sourland]

Moistened feed in a deep dish or floating feed on 'swimming' water may help it learn to eat. I doubt that it will grow a normal bill, but it can have a good quality life.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Aww, he's a cute little guy!

This site has a discussion about ducklings hatched with a similar-looking bill deformity - it seems like the ducklings were adapting well.

I've read other threads where broken bills may regrow, but without understanding the etiology of this issue, it's difficult to predict.

Best wishes!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Another thread that going here.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/call-duckling-deformed-bill.1465733/page-6#post-24607914

 

[AustralorpLover1004]

Moistened feed in a deep dish or floating feed on 'swimming' water may help it learn to eat. I doubt that it will grow a normal bill, but it can have a good quality life.

i moistened the food quite a bit yesterday and he’s just now understanding how to scoop it up!

 

[AustralorpLover1004]

Aww, he's a cute little guy!

This site has a discussion about ducklings hatched with a similar-looking bill deformity - it seems like the ducklings were adapting well.

I've read other threads where broken bills may regrow, but without understanding the etiology of this issue, it's difficult to predict.

Best wishes!

It’s not a deformity, it was broken somehow. He was hatched perfectly normal with a full beak, so is there a chance part of it could grow?

 

[AustralorpLover1004]

Another thread that going here.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/call-duckling-deformed-bill.1465733/page-6#post-24607914

Thanks!

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Oh my goodness! What an absolutely adorable duckling. Poor little thing. Looking at the injured bill breaks my heart. I'm no help but I wanted to comment to let you know that I am cheering this little one on. Hopefully whatever caused this will become evident so it doesn't happen again. Their bills are so sensitive and I imagine that was/is painful but the little cutie looks like it's got a strong will to survive and compensate to thrive. I wish you and your little duckling the very best

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

It’s not a deformity, it was broken somehow. He was hatched perfectly normal with a full beak, so is there a chance part of it could grow?

According to the thread I linked to in my response, there may be a chance.