Poor Chicken's Beak

[threehorses]

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Obe, sometimes poultry sellers (or people who own them) do this to reduce cannibalism. Without the sharp top of the beak, they can't do as much damage to other chickens.

SandyK, you can try feeding her a damp mash every day for a while to help her get some nutrition. It should be easier to eat than other stuff. I agree on a deep feeder. That can help.

If they didn't trim it too far back, they sometimes grow back. All of mine have, but they weren't quite that extreme. Still, we can hope!

 

[quiltnchik]

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She's been "debeaked." I have four BR pullets that have also been debeaked and, although I absolutely abhor the practice of debeaking, I figure they're going to have a much better life here with me. They all free-range now and are able to pluck grass and eat bugs with the best of them. One of my pullets will sometimes peck at grass and think she's close enough, though in reality she's about 1/4" away from what she's trying to pick up. She uses her tongue a lot too, and it's pitiful watching her work so hard to pick up what she wants. They're all fat and happy, though, so I figure that's what matters. In fact, it makes me smile to see them out scratching in the woods with my other chickens now, after living their first 4-5 months of life in tiny cages.

 

[SandyK]

Thanks so much for your replies. She will definitely stay here with me living a good life. She does have a lot of spunk, stands up to the other birds and gets right in there when I come offering goodies for them.

I just wish they had been more careful and trimmed them evenly like the other one.

Thanks again,
Sandy

 

[quiltnchik]

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I know what you mean. A couple of mine look like their poor beaks were "butchered;" they're soooo short!

ETA: From what I've read about debeaking, the bottom beak is actually supposed to be longer than the top beak.