pullet with big crack across beak - need advise (see attached photos)

[AVF]

Hi -

Our 4 1/2 month old arucana pullet seems to have a cracked upper beak. It is cracked from her left (where it is separated) across the top toward the right (where it is still attached). I hadn't noticed it previously - but it doesn't seem like it happened today. She isn't behaving differently. She is still eating and seems fine otherwise.

I am concerned that:
1) It may get infected as she digs around in stuff
2) It may crack entirely off and then a significant chunk of her upper beak would be missing and that could cause some problems for her.

I've tried to upload images (below).

Please advise. I've read the forums and it perhaps I should use glue to secure it? Seems like a tricky process though. Will a beak heal itself? What should I do. Is this something vets could help out with (we are new to all this), or is there anyone in Lafayette, CA (or nearby) that could help us?

I'm really worried about what might happen if it doesn't heal.

Thanks in advance.
AVF

 

[Lacrystol]

WOW it looks as though it may definitely come off exspecially the way it's cracked from one side to the other. But I believe it will grow back but will take some time, I'm not sure if you can put anything on it to keep it together until it does grow out, if you can I wouldn't have a clue of what you can use. Poor thing, sorry I couldn't be of more help, I've never been in a situation like that. Doesn't look to deep so it may hang on there until the beak grows out.

 

[bustermommy]

I'd try superglueing it. Use a toothpick to get the glue in the crack. I would be afraid she'd get it caught on something and hurt herself getting it yanked off.

 

[DrinkTheRainbow]

Quote:
X2 I was thinking about super glue too! But, would it hold long enough?

 

[Tam'ra of Rainbow Vortex]

Superglue should work. They use it on humans in the ER and it was originally developed as emergency first aid. It might not hold forever, but even if it fails, I think she'll be fine. My roo had almost that much of his beak broken off and he is fine. About a month and some change has passed and it has almost grown all the way back to normal. Chickens are remarkable healers.
would either superglue it, or, if you are really concerned about infection, rinse her beak off in water regularly. I had birds horrifically injured in dog attacks and all we did was rinse them in clean water each day (except the worst off who wouldn't let us... proud rooster just suffered through it) and ALL recovered fully. One has a scar, but you'd never know that the others were missing huge patches of skin (some had exposed bone even!) last fall.

 

[OrpingtonManor]

I've never had a problem like that, so can't say what I've done, only what I'd do. I'll weigh in with those who say use superglue.

I think she'll be okay anyway. In some factory farm facilities, they trim the chickens' beaks, and the chickens still manage to eat and drink.

Good luck!

 

[AVF]

Thanks everyone. Sounds like the advice is to go with superglue. We'll give it a go tomorrow evening and I'll report back. Gotta go buy some superglue. Thanks again to all who have chimed in.

 

[navychick]

just a thought....maybe have her bite a pencil or something, then apply the super glue so as to not glue her tongue or lower beak to her top beak. Sometimes ti takes a bit to dry.

 

[AngelzFyre]

You also may want to try what manicurists do for fingernail repair and that's getting either a coffee filter or piece of tea bag cut to the size of the crack and put clear nail polish on it to soak through and then apply and put the super glue over that to hold it like a splint. I know for a fact it works on nails since I've used the tea bag method before and it will stay put until it grows out. You may have to reapply the glue or polish if it looks like it's wearing off. I'd use an old nail polish brush to get it precisely where I wanted it.

 

[AVF]

So the update is: when we got home the next evening armed with superglue, we found that the cracked piece oc beak had fallen off. No blood. However, there was a beak "bone" or other structure exposed that seemed to be undammaged. We used nail clippers to cut off the sharp edges of the broken outer "skin" or " casing". We used a metal file to try to get rid of the other sharp bits (but that didn't really work). I have uploaded below the "before" and "after" photos in case others are intersted or have experienced anything similar.

She seems fine - eating drinking and running around as normal.

Thanks gain for all of your responses the other evening.

Before clipping (after the cracked piece fell off, see orignal post for that photo)

After clipping and filing: