Help! Chick with growth

[NorthwoodsChick]

Prayers for Joy. Thank you for giving this girl a chance at life.

 

[alinas2010]

Thank you so much for asking about her! She’s actually hanging in there. It takes her a lot longer to eat food and drink water, but she’s holding her own. We have her scheduled for surgery on the 25th to trim up her beak and her tongue. She does not have enough space on her lower beak for her tongue so she is housing it in a pocket in her throat that has been created. I’m a little reluctant to disrupt some thing that’s working OK for now. I know she can’t live forever the way things are. But just trying to figure out the best decision for her. She’s literally like a pet. She’s so sweet!!

I am praying for your little girl and surgery today

 

[chickiemama27]

Prayers for Joy. Thank you for giving this girl a chance at life.

UPDATE on Joy:
She had surgery yesterday. It did not go as planned. Her bones had issues splintering because she’s young and they are pliable. They were able to place hardware but last night she shook the hardware out. They will stabilize her at some point today. Does anyone here know of a chicken that has lived without it’s lower beak? I’m wondering if we should remove that since that’s what impeeding her tongue? I’ve been doing some research online. But not sure how reliable it is.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

UPDATE on Joy:
She had surgery yesterday. It did not go as planned. Her bones had issues splintering because she’s young and they are pliable. They were able to place hardware but last night she shook the hardware out. They will stabilize her at some point today. Does anyone here know of a chicken that has lived without it’s lower beak? I’m wondering if we should remove that since that’s what impeeding her tongue? I’ve been doing some research online. But not sure how reliable it is.

I can imaging yhat would require direct tube feeding and fluids into crop. I am not knowledgable in detailed anatomy and support muscles involved swallowing action, but would removal of the lower beak cause the tongue to remain unsupported, exposed? I know from human conditions that dry oral mucus membranes can lead to bacterial buildup from lack of saliva. Do chickens contain salivary glands and if so will they be removed with lower beak removal?
Something to ask your avian vet.

 

[chickiemama27]

I can imaging yhat would require direct tube feeding and fluids into crop. I am not knowledgable in detailed anatomy and support muscles involved swallowing action, but would removal of the lower beak cause the tongue to remain unsupported, exposed? I know from human conditions that dry oral mucus membranes can lead to bacterial buildup from lack of saliva. Do chickens contain salivary glands and if so will they be removed with lower beak removal?
Something to ask your avian vet.

All good points! I’ll share those question with the Avian vet.

See the attached thread I found…
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-has-no-beak.73534/

 

[alinas2010]

All good points! I’ll share those question with the Avian vet.

See the attached thread I found…
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-has-no-beak.73534/

Aw. Animals do amazing things everyday. If she can find a way to eat and drink, I don’t see why it couldn’t work, but agree about all of the points Northwoodschick made. I hope they find something that’s works for this baby!

 

[alinas2010]

Aw. Animals do amazing things everyday. If she can find a way to eat and drink, I don’t see why it couldn’t work, but agree about all of the points Northwoodschick made. I hope they find something that’s works for this baby!

I did see a duck that got a prosthetic bill made for it. I forget why but it was missing upper or lower beak, forget which. But it did extremely well after getting a prosthetic.

 

[chickiemama27]

I am praying for your little girl and surgery today

This means so much to us! Prayers still needed. Thank you

 

[chickiemama27]

I did see a duck that got a prosthetic bill made for it. I forget why but it was missing upper or lower beak, forget which. But it did extremely well after getting a prosthetic.

Wow! That crossed my mind. Also something I’ll mention.

 

[chickiemama27]

Prayers for Joy. Thank you for giving this girl a chance at life.

When I took her in for surgery yesterday. She’s the absolute sweetest little bird!