My rooster is missing his top beak! What do I do?

[Birdsong 82]

Anyway it happened I hope he can adapt and still have a good life

 

[Birdsong 82]

AndGlad you had a good owner to try to help him adapt to have a have happy life

 

[Noellereagan]

Yes, I do believe he can adapt and thrive!
You may need to watch the bottom beak that it doesn't overgrow, but he may naturally hone it.

Chickens, for me are just wonderful and can learn new things if given time and care like you are doing with your fella. There are some amazing threads here about chickens that have lost their beak. One that stands out is Miss Fuzzy Bum it's a good read, but at least start on the first page this shows the damage- if you want to skip some of the treatment she received then just scroll through the pages to find more updated photos of her. There was a video somewhere in there too, but I didn't find it quickly - last updated photo was on page 48 Sweet thing is still going as far as I know. I hope you find it inspiring.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/plese-help-chickens-beak-got-bit-off.848424/

Oh my gosh. That had me in tears! Thanks sooooo much for sharing!

 

[Noellereagan]

I was just thinking about this while cleaning the coop this morning.
Wonders if beak was cracked for quite a while and the 'break' healed up before the beak fell off?

It would almost have to have gone like that. It is really healed. I have been feeding him soft and dry food but in the plastic bowls like someone suggested. That way it’s “deep” in the bowl so he can bury his bottom beak and scoop it as someone suggested. Same with the water. He is doing real well actually. What’s so darn cute is that I do it so often or I will “fluff up” the feed in the dish so frequently that he sees me walking and he runs as fast as he can to me. I feed him out of my hand at times to be sure he’s getting it and he is. This whole accident is making him VERY friendly for a cockerel. Making me all the more attached. I’m also weighing him. Twice so far and one time was just an hour ago. So far he actually gained a few ounces believe it or not.

 

[Noellereagan]

Can't think of any other reason a break that large and close to the head would not bleed like the dickens. Still very strange. Also wonder if it was an injury or a genetic/development defect in the beak formation.

I wondered that too. But it would have had to heal before it fell off not to bleed right? Like the commenter above suggested?

 

[Noellereagan]

Here is a slow-motion video of how my little guy gets food. He grabs it and flips his head back real quick and then uses his tongue to swallow it like he would if he had both top and bottom teeth. He’s doing very well! But I’m not sure if it’s going to grow back?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Looks like he is doing good!

 

[Noellereagan]

Looks like he is doing good!

He is. But he only tries to eat the mash. Which is okay. When it gets stuck I wipe it off for him. It doesn’t get stuck much. He is getting soooooooooo friendly because of all the special handing. He sees me and runs to me and follows me around even if he’s not hungry. He realized through all this that I won’t hurt him so he’s not scared at ALL.

 

[Noellereagan]

See.. crazy friendly!

 

[Noellereagan]