Pecked Upper Beak

[AlexisWheeler]

I bought turkey poults yesterday. The seller pointed out how the guinea chicks had been pecking at the poults beaks but upon closer inspection, one's top beak is in pretty bad shape. How likely is this to affect the turkey's quality of life? It's breathing seems odd as well which I'm sure is related to the beak injury.

 

[Pearlescent]

That’s pretty bad looking. I feel like that’s more of a defect than an injury, I doubt Guinea keets could inflict that damage.

I’m no expert, but that seems more like something it hatched with, that got worse from being pecked.

If it has a hard time breathing, it probably affects its quality of life.

Can it eat and drink okay? Do the other poults pick on it? Is it’s behavior normal?

 

[AlexisWheeler]

That’s pretty bad looking. I feel like that’s more of a defect than an injury, I doubt Guinea keets could inflict that damage.

I’m no expert, but that seems more like something it hatched with, that got worse from being pecked.

If it has a hard time breathing, it probably affects its quality of life.

Can it eat and drink okay? Do the other poults pick on it? Is it’s behavior normal?

Thank you for the reply!

I have watched it eat and drink and it seems to do so normally. I haven't noticed any of the others picking at it either. I only bought 2 poults so it's in a tote with the other poult and 2 chicks. They seem to all get along.

This is my first time every having turkey poults so I don't know much about them.

 

[FunClucks]

I'm familiar with chicken beak injuries. In my experience, it will grow back. It may take a few months, but you should see steady progress. If not, then reassess. You can look up beak injuries on this site and see examples. I've had a hen crack off her entire upper beak, and it grew back fine, was just sore for a while as the hard outer layer was regrowing. Don't know how she managed to break it. As long as poult is eating/drinking fine, and not being bullied, it should heal up fine, no action required by you.

 

[R2elk]

Thank you for the reply!

I have watched it eat and drink and it seems to do so normally. I haven't noticed any of the others picking at it either. I only bought 2 poults so it's in a tote with the other poult and 2 chicks. They seem to all get along.

This is my first time every having turkey poults so I don't know much about them.

It really is not a good idea to brood poults and chicks together due to the problems that imprinting can cause once they are adults. It usually ends up with the chickens on the losing side.

There is also the fact that poults need a high protein turkey or game bird starter that also has the higher levels of lysine, methionine and niacin that they need for proper growth and development.

 

[AlexisWheeler]

I'm familiar with chicken beak injuries. In my experience, it will grow back. It may take a few months, but you should see steady progress. If not, then reassess. You can look up beak injuries on this site and see examples. I've had a hen crack off her entire upper beak, and it grew back fine, was just sore for a while as the hard outer layer was regrowing. Don't know how she managed to break it. As long as poult is eating/drinking fine, and not being bullied, it should heal up fine, no action required by you.

Thank you so much! That really made me happy! It's such a sweet poult too I wouldn't want to lose it.

 

[AlexisWheeler]

It really is not a good idea to brood poults and chicks together due to the problems that imprinting can cause once they are adults. It usually ends up with the chickens on the losing side.

There is also the fact that poults need a high protein turkey or game bird starter that also has the higher levels of lysine, methionine and niacin that they need for proper growth and development.

I do have them on a 30% protein game bird starter. I was told the chicks would help the poults find the feed. Since they seem to be doing fine with eating & drinking I will separate the chicks from them.
Thank you for the help!