Im putting this in the "baby chicks" section, because I suspect this is not a serious problem, but due to the fact that these chickens in question are in their youth...Maybe I am being paranoid, but I'd like some feedback to reassure me..
I have a dozen hatchery black australorps, and today was moving day for them! Out of the house and into the garage, then into "general population" in a few weeks. I handle them regularly, but I havent noticed this till today. They are 6 weeks old.
My fave cockerel (the keeper) has a significant "overbite." His top beak is much longer than his bottom beak, and the top one curves downward. I looked at the rest more closely, and I saw that about 4-5 others had the same thing going on.
Is this cuz they are young, living in pine chips and cardboard and havent learned to scrape/file their beaks yet? I see my adult flock rub their beaks on a tree, or the ground, or whatever is handy. they do it all the time. I also recall the parakeet I has as a kid having this rock thing to scrape his beak on to keep it from growing out of control.
Is this a real problem or will they fig it out? They just learned to sleep like chickens recently. On a perch, head tucked, etc. Not flat on their face, sprawled however they landed when they passed out, lol.
Or do I need to do something about this?
I also want to know if I need to choose a different roo. I really like Elmer. Hes big, strong, gentle, and human friendliest of all of them, pullets included. He was the only chick I got that had pasty butt, and I think since we spent so much "personal time" together cleaning up his butt, he and I have a certain understanding. Pasty butt got him his name (Paste=glue=Elmer's) and I am not a namer of livestock per se. But....I know hatchery chicks are not always "perfect" and if this is some kind of defect, I need to pick a different keeper roo. I have 6 all together, and 5 are going to the dinner table. Elmer was the keeper, but he cant be if he has a bad gene cuz he's also going to be the father of future generations, and I need a good roo for the job, in temperment, and quality.
Suggestions?
I have a dozen hatchery black australorps, and today was moving day for them! Out of the house and into the garage, then into "general population" in a few weeks. I handle them regularly, but I havent noticed this till today. They are 6 weeks old.
My fave cockerel (the keeper) has a significant "overbite." His top beak is much longer than his bottom beak, and the top one curves downward. I looked at the rest more closely, and I saw that about 4-5 others had the same thing going on.
Is this cuz they are young, living in pine chips and cardboard and havent learned to scrape/file their beaks yet? I see my adult flock rub their beaks on a tree, or the ground, or whatever is handy. they do it all the time. I also recall the parakeet I has as a kid having this rock thing to scrape his beak on to keep it from growing out of control.
Is this a real problem or will they fig it out? They just learned to sleep like chickens recently. On a perch, head tucked, etc. Not flat on their face, sprawled however they landed when they passed out, lol.
Or do I need to do something about this?
I also want to know if I need to choose a different roo. I really like Elmer. Hes big, strong, gentle, and human friendliest of all of them, pullets included. He was the only chick I got that had pasty butt, and I think since we spent so much "personal time" together cleaning up his butt, he and I have a certain understanding. Pasty butt got him his name (Paste=glue=Elmer's) and I am not a namer of livestock per se. But....I know hatchery chicks are not always "perfect" and if this is some kind of defect, I need to pick a different keeper roo. I have 6 all together, and 5 are going to the dinner table. Elmer was the keeper, but he cant be if he has a bad gene cuz he's also going to be the father of future generations, and I need a good roo for the job, in temperment, and quality.
Suggestions?
