Hooked Beak??

[carriec2293]

 

[Tomomi M]

I totally agree with Gander007. I was advised to give my Emma some wet crumbles. I put the food in a deeper container so that she could sink her beak into. I didn't want to separate her from others because then she would not be able to go back to the flock without facing bullies. But I was prepared to take her out of the flock and raise her indoor if I had to. I didn't hand feed her, but put a lot of wet food in several different containers so others don't take away the food I really wanted to give Emma (there were 6 hens in the coop).

Soon after, Emma started growing bigger, 2 months later I noticed her beak wasn't hooked any more. Raising her outdoor helped file her own beak down I guess. She was the smallest and most timid chick but now she is closer to the top of the pecking order. She pecks at a hen more than double of her size.

I hope your little baby start eating on her own and possibly go back to blend in with others. Good luck!

 

[Tomomi M]

I just read your 2nd comment. My Emma was always hungry and pecking at feeder and ground until I realized that she wanted to eat but food wasn't going into her mouth. Once I started giving her wet food, she started eating and grew bigger.

Before I realized that she had a hooked-beak problem, she had a condition called "pasty butt". I heard giving them yogurt may help their intestinal health, so I was feeding her yogurt every morning/evening. I crushed freeze-dried mealworm into yogurt and spoon fed her every morning/evening. This went on about 3 weeks before the pasty butt wasn't an issue. After she moved to outdoor, I gave her wet crumbles every morning for about 2 months as well until I realized that she didn't have hooked beak any more and she became more outgoing.

I don't know anything about force feeding chicks if they are not motivated to eat. Emma at least showed her appetite. I hope your baby start eating soon.

 

[carriec2293]

Thankyou for your advice! I have been wetting her food and since then she has been eating well. She is such an affectionate little girl and I hope she shares the same luck as your emma with getting better and thriving!

 

[Tomomi M]

Such a relief! I love the fact that experienced flock raisers of BYC community always has the answer. My Emma was saved too.

Please update on your baby soon!

 

[chickamy]

Use a nail file. Gently.

 

[anidabrock]

Here is my chick Chub-Chub (named by my 3 year old).

I was hoping to get some beak advice as well. He is 9 weeks old and his beak won't shut. He seems to be really struggling to eat and keep food in his beak. It just ends up all over the floor. He isn't showing signs of poor nutrition yet but the problem seems to be getting worse in the last week or two. Would filing help? Any sugestions as to what I should try?
Thank you so much!

 

[Tomomi M]

Have you tried providing some wet feed in a deeper dish? It worked for my hooked beak chick. I hope you get advice from experienced flock raisers here and Chub-Chub start eating and healthy.

 

[anidabrock]

I tried feeding him some wet feed and he just turned his little head and stared at me! I took away the dry feed to encourage him to try the wet feed but he doesn't seen to be interested. Did it take a few tries before they liked the wet feed?

 

[gander007]

I tried feeding him some wet feed and he just turned his little head and stared at me! I took away the dry feed to encourage him to try the wet feed but he doesn't seen to be interested. Did it take a few tries before they liked the wet feed?

That all sounds normal, but the feed should be no wetter then a mush ....

I normally let it sit in the pan and dry out a bit so it is not like a soup and on cold days when it in down in the 40's or so I heat the feed up on the stove and they seem to really enjoy that .....

Have you tried feeding your bird a hard boiled egg it great for them and they will really enjoy it ..........