Non emergency: how to help molting chicken with extreme scissor beak

[Ketaped]

Hi folks, this isn't an emergency but I was hoping that someone might have some advice. I have a pullet with extreme scissor beak, it's pretty much at a 90 degree angle. She eats and drinks ok, but can't preen at all. We're in our 1st molt with her and all her feathers are coming in, but she's not able to strip the casing off to release the feathers. Short of grabbing her and manually cleaning off all the new feathers with my fingers, is there an easier way to do this that's less stressful for her? It's getting cold at night and she needs a functional set of feathers.

Thanks.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi folks, this isn't an emergency but I was hoping that someone might have some advice. I have a pullet with extreme scissor beak, it's pretty much at a 90 degree angle. She eats and drinks ok, but can't preen at all. We're in our 1st molt with her and all her feathers are coming in, but she's not able to strip the casing off to release the feathers. Short of grabbing her and manually cleaning off all the new feathers with my fingers, is there an easier way to do this that's less stressful for her? It's getting cold at night and she needs a functional set of feathers.

Thanks.

This is an interesting dilemma!
Does she take dust baths?

I do know that some people have to "help" birds that have poofs/crests get the keratin sheath off the top feathers.
You may have to manually help her. My cockerel is still growing feathers in on the back of his neck, he seems to appreciate a good scratching - this helps loosen up the sheaths.

 

[Ketaped]

This is an interesting dilemma!
Does she take dust baths?

I do know that some people have to "help" birds that have poofs/crests get the keratin sheath off the top feathers.
You may have to manually help her. My cockerel is still growing feathers in on the back of his neck, he seems to appreciate a good scratching - this helps loosen up the sheaths.

I'm not certain if she dust bathes, but I believe she does. It may help a little, but not significantly. Unfortunately, she's not very comfortable with people, and trying to give her scratches just leaves her miserable and squawking like a banshee. That may be my only option though.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm not certain if she dust bathes, but I believe she does. It may help a little, but not significantly. Unfortunately, she's not very comfortable with people, and trying to give her scratches just leaves her miserable and squawking like a banshee. That may be my only option though.

Oh dear! You may want to wait until she is roosting, then catch her up then (take her off the roost). Swaddle her loosely in a towel, cover her face, then work on the keratin sheaths, just expose one area at a time.
Just a thought.