My sweet Sunny and eagle like beak

[BrahmaGirl2018]

Hi! I have (4) Brahma chicks that are almost 4 weeks old (will be on Wednesday). They all came from the same breeder. I have two lights and two darks. My Sunny has always been a bit smaller than the other three, with my other light Brahma being the biggest of all four chicks by a good bit. Sunny had almost caught up to her sister, but then another crazy overnight growth spurt widened the gap again. Anyway, the last two days, I have noticed Sunny's upper break is significantly longer than her sister's. She is eager to eat and seems full of energy and very lovable (she is the first to come to me when I pop in to see them in their brooder). She also has a little "bump" like where her chin would be. It is soft, and doesn't seem to hurt when I touch her. I was worried maybe she wasn't getting enough food with the beak issue, so I fixed a boiled egg this morning and had a separate portion for her, I didn't even get to feed her that bowl I had for her because she jumped in and gobbled up a large bit of what I had prepared for her sisters. She is drinking good. Poop looks perfectly normal. Just looking for some feedback from others who have had similar beak "issues".

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What are you feeding? What's the mill date on the feed. Rickets come to mind.

 

[BrahmaGirl2018]

Here is their chick food...

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Does it show the mill, or manufacturing date anywhere?

@Eggcessive , @Wyorp Rock , does this look familiar?

 

[BrahmaGirl2018]

I do not see a date on it...

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I might try a new bag and perhaps add some vitamins to their water for a bit. Hopefully those more experienced will give an opinion.

I read an article in one of my chicken magazines a few years back about chicks that had rickets from a bad batch of feed where minerals were left out of it. The pictures showed chicks that looked like their beaks were melting off so that's why rickets come to mind.

Feeding too much corn can also cause an imbalance too, so it's important to feed growing chicks mostly a ration.

 

[BrahmaGirl2018]

I might try a new bag and perhaps add some vitamins to their water for a bit. Hopefully those more experienced will give an opinion.

I read an article in one of my chicken magazines a few years back about chicks that had rickets from a bad batch of feed where minerals were left out of it. The pictures showed chicks that looked like their beaks were melting off so that's why rickets come to mind.

Feeding too much corn can also cause an imbalance too, so it's important to feed growing chicks mostly a ration.

They only get their starter feed and maybe a mealworm or two every other day. I did feed them a boiled egg mashed up yesterday as a treat...they loved it! I have contacted the breeder about the food, I am sure she has a record of the batch.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I definitely could be wrong, hopefully the two people I tagged will give their advice at some time today.

 

[Eggcessive]

I haven’t heard of that feed before, but it says North Carolina on the bag. I agree that rickets or a mineral issue may be possible. Does her beak feel rubbery, or doe she have problems with her legs. You may want to get her on a vitamin with mineral supplement and give extra vitamin D3 (not D) for a few weeks. Here are some good links to read:
https://www.hobbyfarms.com/rickets-in-chickens-2/
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...ement-poultry/mineral-deficiencies-in-poultry

 

[BrahmaGirl2018]

Her beak is hard and legs are strong...no wobbles or limps...no deformation of any kind.