Help with chicken beak dilemma...

[Deleted member 94844]

Is it possible for the outer layer of the beak to crack off? I'm looking at one of my pullets and her beak looks... smaller. There isn't any blood or obvious injury, but it looks to me like the shell of the beak may have cracked off. The lower beak now extends a few millimeters past the top. I don't have any "before" pictures for reference and have never had this happen with any other chickens before. She seems okay and is able to eat, but I'm curious what I can/should do to help repair if in fact that is what happened. Will it grow back? Any insight appreciated.

 

[WVduckchick]

Beaks can get broken, and I believe they heal relatively easy, but definitely keep an eye on her.
I know @Pyxis had a couple break their beaks recently, maybe she can help with ideas.

Pictures would be helpful, if you can post some.

 

[dawg53]

The beak will regrow in time, dont mess with it. Pecking and picking food up might eventually be a problem and be painful. If eating becomes an issue, use a deep bowl filled with feed mixed with water to make a watery gruel for the pullet to eat. Keep it wet, it will dry out during the day.

 

[Deleted member 94844]

Thanks so much for the replies... it's so odd, because it doesn't look "broken" at all... just looks like an outer shell was removed at the end, leaving a smaller version of the beak intact. Will try to get a pic. Hold on.

 

[Deleted member 94844]

Here are some photos... looking slightly rougher than it did last time I checked on her. Poor baby.

 

[Deleted member 94844]

Interestingly, I found one other thread on these forums with a similar injury... and it was also a buff orpington. Wonder if they are perhaps more prone to this than other breeds for some reason?

 

[lilmillefleur]

I think it might just be that buff orps are popular and so there is a higher chance that the chicken would be a buff...
I don't imagine what could have cause that! Good luck!

 

[coach723]

That does look broken. The smaller part is likely the soft tissue, the 'quick', that was exposed. It happened long ago enough (meaning it's not super fresh) that it has already dried and hardened up some. I wouldn't do anything to it, just let it grow out. I would however look around for things she might have gotten it hung up on. They can get breaks like that sometimes from trying to get to things on the other side of wire.

 

[Grits&Eggs]

Figured out mine (Buff Orpington as well) must have broken hers pecking at my hanging feeder and myabe not a really good shot, kept hitting the metal, decided to put their food in PVC pipe - helped her and me, from losing so much food! Good luck

 

[dawg53]

For my Barred Rock, she somehow got her beak caught in hardware cloth and split her upper beak. There was a little blood. I didnt clean the blood off and I applied a dab of neosporin. I kept her in the hospital cage for almost one month feeding her the gruel until she was finally able to pick up feed with her beak.