Parrot Beak / Underbite Chicken

[McChickenFarm]

Hi all, I have a month and a half old Easter Egger who seems to have developed an underbite. She’s starting to seem to have trouble eating the dry crumble feed but can get the mash.

I’m wondering, is trimming her lower beak the best option? Would I need to also trim her top beak? Should I wait longer to see if her top beak catches up with the bottom? And if I do need to trim, how do I know where the quirk is?

Thank you!

 

[MysteryChicken]

Hi all, I have a month and a half old Easter Egger who seems to have developed an underbite. She’s starting to seem to have trouble eating the dry crumble feed but can get the mash.

I’m wondering, is trimming her lower beak the best option? Would I need to also trim her top beak? Should I wait longer to see if her top beak catches up with the bottom? And if I do need to trim, how do I know where the quirk is?

Thank you!

If the lower beak is just over grown you can trim it. Can you get close ups under, & inside of the lower beak?

 

[McChickenFarm]

She wasn’t the most cooperative during the photoshoot but here’s what I was able to take for photos. Thank you for your advice!

If the lower beak is just over grown you can trim it. Can you get close ups under, & inside of the lower beak?

 

[Finchbreeder]

It looks like that underbeak could be trimmed level with the top one without getting the blood supply.

 

[CalgaryFarmer]

Here is mine.

Link

 

[CalgaryFarmer]

I used these. Good nail clippers would provably work well.

If you trim the bottom, trim from the point and back along the edge of the beak on both sides and then trim the front. Because of the shape of the beak, I would not trim the across the front of the beak first. I found you could not trim much before the beak bled.

In your case, it looks like trimming the top beak will help alot by allowing the chick to close its beak.

 

[CalgaryFarmer]

I also wrapped him in a towel to hold his wings and feet. He was quite patient through the whole thing.

 

[rosemarythyme]

It's a form of crossbeak, so she won't be able to maintain the shape of the beak very well herself.

I'd trim the bottom beak very carefully. I find it easier to use a nail file rather than clippers for small trims, as it gives you much better control over what's removed.

Even with trims she will find it easier to eat wet or fermented feed, so I'd aim to have that available for a good part of the day.

 

[CalgaryFarmer]

I find it easier to use a nail file rather than clippers for small trims, as it gives you much better control over what's removed.

This may be better. Try it first. I did try but the file I used was probably the wrong type.

 

[Finchbreeder]

Those clippers are the same ones mum uses on her show girl that has an overgrowing beak. Her 2 budgies with faulty beaks grumbled the 1st couple of times, but now realise they are being helped.