Possible cracked or Inured Beak

[chriswininger]

We have noticed something odd with the top of one of our chickens beaks. It looks whitish and indented. This is it's upper beak near the base of the beak.

We've read some beak flaking can be normal. We're not sure if this is faking or some kind of injury and if it's an injury exactly how concerned we should be.

Would some glue be enough to help her or should I drive her to a specialist (normal vet is out; so, closest option is a little over an hour away)

I'm attaching some images and wondering if anyone here with one more experience can give us some indication of how bad this is and what we should do.

Thanks much.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Looks like it's rubbed/scuffed or injured from her sticking her beak through wire, poking it on something sharp (nail/staple?) or possibly catching it on a sharp edge of a feeder or water station.

Take time to observe her to see what she's doing.

Another possibility is that she may have had a Papilloma and it left an indention.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/what-is-this-wart-on-my-lavender-orps-beak.839913/

Personally, I would leave it alone just monitor it to see if it gets worse/better or stays the same. As long as she's eating/drinking/active.

 

[sourland]

good post by @Wyorp Rock. What type feeder are you using.

 

[chriswininger]

Looks like it's rubbed/scuffed or injured from her sticking her beak through wire, poking it on something sharp (nail/staple?) or possibly catching it on a sharp edge of a feeder or water station.

Take time to observe her to see what she's doing.

Another possibility is that she may have had a Papilloma and it left an indention.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/what-is-this-wart-on-my-lavender-orps-beak.839913/

Personally, I would leave it alone just monitor it to see if it gets worse/better or stays the same. As long as she's eating/drinking/active.

Thanks you very much for your response, very kind that you've taken the time!

We're suspicious that it was either pecking through the grates on the grandfather feeder when the food was lower or excitedly pecking at the mesh on the door when she wanted out of the enclosed run, hard to say.

She is so far still eating fine and energetic, but it does sadly look like it's getting worse. It's become red. The other birds are pecking at her too much yet, but seems like it may be starting. We caught her trying to sleep in the nesting box instead of the roost tonight which is not something she's done in that past :-(

I'm thinking of trying to clean it with hydrogen peroxide or vetericyn. Any reason not to do this? I've seen where some people will glue a bit of tissue or something over a wounded beak or even just apply some glue by its self. Any chance that would help in this case or make it worse?

 

[chriswininger]

good post by @Wyorp Rock. What type feeder are you using.

Grandpa's Feeder https://www.grandpasfeeders.com/. We are actually wondering about it. It has a grate to keep them from throwing food out which sinks with the food level.

I've noticed it does not always fall down as readily as you would hope, which means that while there was plenty of food, the grate was sitting at an angle over the food. I'm wondering if she's been catching her beak on that.

They do stay in an enclosed run much of the time, but go for walks in the yards. We weren't able to let them out a couple of days and while the run should be big enough, I'm suspicious that they were upset at being locked up and were pecking at the wire around the run.

Why do you ask? Have you heard of problems with some feeders?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks you very much for your response, very kind that you've taken the time!

We're suspicious that it was either pecking through the grates on the grandfather feeder when the food was lower or excitedly pecking at the mesh on the door when she wanted out of the enclosed run, hard to say.

She is so far still eating fine and energetic, but it does sadly look like it's getting worse. It's become red. The other birds are pecking at her too much yet, but seems like it may be starting. We caught her trying to sleep in the nesting box instead of the roost tonight which is not something she's done in that past :-(

I'm thinking of trying to clean it with hydrogen peroxide or vetericyn. Any reason not to do this? I've seen where some people will glue a bit of tissue or something over a wounded beak or even just apply some glue by its self. Any chance that would help in this case or make it worse?

View attachment 2471696

Vetericyn would be fine to use if that's what you have.
It does look worse and I agree, it looks like she's hanging it on something. If the feeder is not working properly, then consider using something different.

A change in behavior (her not roosting) is a concern. I would check to make sure she's actually getting enough to eat (crop should be full at night/empty in the morning) since it sounds like she's having trouble with the feeder(?) Possible if she's scraping her beak, she's hesitant to use it and not eating well. Just a thought.

Some do repair a broken beak with super glue and a tea bag. It may work for her, but if she continues to scrape the beak, then likely the glue/bag will eventually wear or come loose drawing attention to the area.
https://the-chicken-chick.com/repairing-chickens-broken-beak/

 

[chriswininger]

Realizing I never updated this and I always hate it when injured chicken stories trail off. We took her to a vet that sees chickens. They did not end up gluing it back together. She advised we make sure she didn't get any infections and let it heal on it's own. The biggest thing to watch for she said was that the chicken is able and interested in eating. Fortunately this one never had any issues with food

It has been a while now but I believe we gave her antibiotics (sorry should have updated this sooner, struggling to remember now). We also applied some diluted Chlorhexidine to it a couple times a day. The healing process was slow and at one point after seeming nearly complete it cracked again :-( We just continued to apply Chlorhexidine and look after her and eventually she got back to herself.

Her beak does not look 100% normal, there is a bit that sticks up funny on top but it does not seem to cause her problems or pain and the vet thinks it is OK. I do not have any good recent close shots of here beak (she's usually too in motion), but here's a fun shot of her and her sister enjoying the day (I don't recommend letting chickens in your house, they are not supposed to be doing that but the door blew open and this is how I found them).