Need help on beak trimming

[happyhens1972]

IT'S HORRIBLE!!!

There's not much that is nice about the commercial egg market or the meat market. I took on some ex battery hens and they came practically featherless, beaks cut in half, combs three times normal size and almost white. Thankfully a few monthe of TLC and they were right as ninepence but it gave me a crash course in beak care, amongst other things! X

 

[aart]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/topic-of-the-week-beaks-spurs-and-nails.1177454/

 

[centrarchid]

See post #3 to change to first image on beak. That is where I would want to make and along that cross section.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/very-overgrown-beak.1106795/#post-17033637

 

[Aubby]

 

[Aubby]

I am still trying to figure out how to post on here. The above pictures are after and before . I Did it!!!!!! I waited til late last night when she was sleepy. She took it better than me. Did I get enough?

 

[azygous]

You did good. My first time trimming a beak, the hen jerked at the last second, causing her beak to slip farther back in the clipper, and the result was I hit the quick full-on.

It bled like a fire hydrant. Not only that, hitting the quick on a beak hits the most sensitive and most abundant nerves on a chicken's body, causing immense pain.

Trimming a beak should be undertaken only for the most serious of reasons, and using the utmost care and caution. It's definitely a two-person job.

I commend you again for getting advice and guidance before attempting to trim your chicken's beak.

 

[happyhens1972]

I am still trying to figure out how to post on here. The above pictures are after and before . I Did it!!!!!! I waited til late last night when she was sleepy. She took it better than me. Did I get enough?

Wow! Looks like you did a fabulous job!! And yes, I think you got enough....maybe you could just file the 'corners' as such, to make a more definitive point to the tip or you may find the very slight overhang that is left, will then grow down again.

But SERIOUSLY give yourself a pat on the back....your girl will be so much happier and more comfortable now xx

 

[Aubby]

Thanx again to all. Couldn't have done it without all the wonderful info. I will attempt to file a bit this eve.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I took the picture from the internet, hence why I credited it to the OT. It was just to show you a close up of the white versus dark area I was talking about but yes, there's no reason why that beak would not heal. I had ex battery girls that came to me with a third/two thirds of their beak cut off, like the picture below, and it grew to look perfectly normal eventually. I just trimmed and filed it into shape as it grew in, to prevent it deforming....

View attachment 1245449

When a chicken is debeaked the beak will never fully grow back.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

View attachment 1245997 View attachment 1245996

That's looks fantastic!! Good job!!!