I was hoping to never say this...

[suzettex5]

j71- Dont give up! Maybe do a search on "De-beaking" Some people and places will de-beak young chickens and the hens still live and eat. Maybe you can find some pics to compare your hen to. It may be a big adjustment, but she might just get along fine. Especially if she's figured out how to drink water, she knows she can still use the beak a little, maybe try a warm mash slurry that is watered down for her to 'drink', it might help till she figures out solids? I really hope she does ok, after a battle with a racoon, she deserves to live to tell about it! Maybe even a new nick name- Zena the Warrior Hen-Cess???

Good luck, and

to you and your hen. (and

to the racoon!)

 

[Dar]

can you bring her inside and keep her beak clean, make her a slurry of food and mix it with yogurt keep an eye on her for a few days to see how she eats... I would say its a 50/50 chance that the beak may grow a little to allow her to eat properly...

but I am not a chicken expert...

 

[j71]

would trimming the lower part back help a bit? did my pics show up?? I can see them.

 

[dbcox]

Before you trim the bottom why not try making the slurry they talked about at the beginning? If she has already figured out how to drink she may quickly learn to drink the slurry. If you trim the beak first you might remove that as an option without making her a viable way to eat. No matter what, Good luck!

 

[AHappychick]

Quote:
for now I would not trim anything, make the mix and let her drink that as a suplement and let it heal. make sure it does not get infected.

then you can figure out what to do in a few days after some time for research.

Also you must trap and kill that coon if you have not already as it will keep coming back.

Sounds promising though

good luck!

 

[j71]

TY all....Slurry it is....update down the road

 

[j71]

Hi, My apologies for bumping this to the top here. I didnt want to add another post as there are many emergencies....

Ok, Just looking for thoughts...please....any...

Its been almost 4days since attack. Tillie seems to be AOK.....But...

I still dont think she is eating...or eating well?

I made a nice warm slurry mix 2x and she turned her nose.....the other hens...luved it.

They are outside now, niceday...shes pecking but not sure if shes getting. I did (I think) see her get down a larger bug earlier....

Shes laid eggs too!

Not stressed....seems normal....you think she is eating??

I have posted pix back on page 1 if you want to see the damaged beak.

TY!

 

[CoopCrazy]

Really I would say that she if she is laying she is somehow getting enough food.... I would maybe try making a few differnet things and see what she likes.. I have heard of folks with debeaked and partial debeaked chickens that just use a deep food dish and the chicken scoops the food in its mouth, sticks its neck up and swallows.. Also you may try pellets instead of crumbles as they may be easier for her to get ahold of...

 

[sourland]

I think Coopcrazy has the right idea. Provide feed in a deep dish so that she can jam her face into it. Moistened mash might also be a good thing to try. It appears that she has a will to live. She just needs a way to eat. If all fails, I would trim the lower bill back to the quick.

 

[j71]

Last *bump* I think.....


So she was good outside yesterday but I did notice some different behavior after awhile.

She went to her nexting box and just sat there while the others were still scratching for bugs....is this Broody?

She is facing the wrong way in the box and does make some noises....not sure what to do here!?!?

I dont know if this means its time to put her down? Is she sufferiing? Shock?!?!

Will not eat slurry mix, will scratch for bugs....I did see her eat down a spaghetti noodle I have her about 8in long...

Man, Im lost here.....and feel pretty bad about the whole ordeal.

More thoughts??? Sorry to bump this, im still a newbie here....