New chicken mom!

[Rodna]

Welcome to BYC. Have you opened her beak and looked inside her mouth to see if her tongue is there and working?

I’ve seen her beak open but I can’t get it open. The bottom beak is really small & I was afraid I’d hurt her. Is there a trick?

 

[Rodna]

Welcome to BYC!

Thank you!

 

[janiedoe]

I’ve seen her beak open but I can’t get it open. The bottom beak is really small & I was afraid I’d hurt her. Is there a trick?

Yes. Just pull on her wattles gently and she will open her beak.

 

[Debbie292d]

Is it better to clip it or should I try filing it? It does seem to keep growing.

We clipped where we knew it was safe, then filed so it's not sharp edges and to get more off. We have flour sitting right there as in the beginning we'd go too far on the upper or lower, but now we've done it so many times we know when to stop.

 

[Rodna]

We clipped where we knew it was safe, then filed so it's not sharp edges and to get more off. We have flour sitting right there as in the beginning we'd go too far on the upper or lower, but now we've done it so many times we know when to stop.

Thanks for the tutorial- I’m so afraid I’ll hurt her.

 

[Rodna]

Yes. Just pull on her wattles gently and she will open her beak.

Thanks I’ll give it a try.

 

[Marie2020]

Hello Rodna
Thank you for joining us . You'll find a lot of caring people here to direct you.

Not that i know but I'd try @Debbie292d advice on the filing

 

[chrissynemetz]

Hi, and welcome to BYC! We're glad you joined us!

 

[sourland]

Is it better to clip it or should I try filing it? It does seem to keep growing.

Perhaps a combination of both?

 

[Rodna]

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!

I have a similar bird, now a hen, that started out crossbeak, now isn't as much, but just has a very fast-growing top beak. We use one of those fingernail dremel kits you can get from Chewy or Amazon.

Her dry crumbles are in a deep dish, and they may look like they're eating, but if you look close, 3/4 of it falls back out. That's why they need wet sloppy crumbles in a deep dish so their beak doesn't hit the bottom.

We're glad you're here!

I gave her wet crumbles this morning- she put her beak in & then took off. I guess I’m about to get a BIG lesson in patience! She doesn’t like it when I separate her from her tribe.