Mouth stuck open

[millcjsao]

New to chickens. Any ideas on why she can’t close her mouth? Thought her top beak might be broken? She can use the bottom but can’t close her mouth to eat/pick up food.

 

[RosemaryDuck]

It looks like a predator may have grabbed her or she got her beak stuck in something. She may lose the top part of her beak.

I'll tag some users who may have seen this before.

@Eggcessive
@Miss Lydia

 

[MysteryChicken]

New to chickens. Any ideas on why she can’t close her mouth? Thought her top beak might be broken? She can use the bottom but can’t close her mouth to eat/pick up food.

Looks busted upwards. I'm not sure this type of break can be corrected without a vet.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Or her bottom jaw is broken, which is possible too.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I the first picture it looks like something has happened to her beak right where it attaches to her face? Unless she can close her mouth to eat she won't last long. I agree a vet would be best.

 

[millcjsao]

I'm having trouble finding a vet. I am able to feed and give her water through a syringe. She doesn't mind me messing with her beak. She is using the bottom part and tongue fine she just can't close the top down. She had to of gotten it stuck in hardware cloth or fighting with another chicken because the run and coop are predator proof and all the others are fine.

 

[Eggcessive]

Poor thing. You could tube feed her for awhile, but it doesn’t look very good for long term if she cannot eat on her own. There are a few older threads where most of the beak is missing, and chickens can get food and water, especially if feed is moistened once a day in a clean bowl.

 

[Eggcessive]

If you do a search at the top of the page under “search forums,” you may be able to find some helpful threads to read. At first your chicken’s beak will be very painful for a few days. She may be able to learn how to eat. You might find an avian or other vet who could repair it. Here in post 7 of this thread, this may help you:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/broken-open-beak.1337516/#post-21876931