Help...what is wrong with my chicken's beak? (pics)

[chickengal]

It is hard to see it unless you open the chicken's beak. What is it? How can I treat it so it doesn't get worse. A few weeks ago it and another chicken looked like it might be gagging. They were opening their mouth wide like someting was in their crop. I thought they might have an impacted or sour crop. But the next day they seemed to be fine...then I saw this a few days later...the other one looks like he has this starting on his beak. Help!

 

[Judy]

Is it hard or soft? What does it feel like?

 

[dawg53]

Could be canker.
(IF) it is, it's contageous.

 

[Judy]

I doubt chickens get canker sores; at any rate, a quick Google search reveals they are not contagious. This poster may have been thinking of cold sores, which are a type of Herpes, which of course is contagious. However, in all my reading on here, I have never heard of a chicken having any form of herpes. That is not to say it can't happen, of course.

My first two thoughts when I saw the pics were gapeworm and beak deformity. I have no idea what a gapeworm looks like, but I do know they can be seen inside the mouth. That's why I asked about hard or soft. If it's a beak deformity, the approach would be similar to crossbeak, I imagine, unless, of course, you are considering vet care. If it's a beak deformity, there is a lot of discussion on here under crossbeak -- it's a matter of managing their feeding situation so they can eat, and sometimes trimming the beak, if necessary.

 

[CMV]

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/154/trichomoniasis-canker-frounce

Here's a link to canker (trichomoniasis). Nasty stuff. I hope this is not what's wrong with your bird.

 

[dawg53]

Additionally... https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=340720&p=2 post#14 good luck.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Ah -- thank you. I learned something.

I'm a people nurse so thought of cankers in people. Never occurred to me there was a completely different condition in chickens with the same name.

Hope the OP gets back to us. Staying subscribed.

 

[TaLani]

In the first pic it looks like she has a little crack in the side of her beak and maybe what we're seeing in the inside her mouth could be an infection. What do you think ddawn?

 

[dawg53]

It might be wet pox too...photos> https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=268902 Posts #5 and 18. Also https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=228358 Post #8.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
I've never seen any of the stuff that's been mentioned on this thread, including wet pox. I am at a loss and hoping someone comes along with actual experience. What it LOOKS most like, to me, is some sort of beak or mouth deformity, an extra growth.