Quail Missing Upper Beak

[foog]

All healed

 

[Jessandchickens]

Unfortunately, one of my hens somehow broke off her entire upper beak. I don’t know what happened, just a few ideas. I am thinking she got it caught somewhere during a fright the other night.

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My first thought was to cull her, and I know a lot of people probably would. She was able to drink, and tried to eat so I decided to wait. I know birds can adapt to missing parts of their beaks, so I had some hope that maybe she would.

Long story short… she wouldn’t eat soft food, but couldn't eat her normal food. I don’t know how to tube feed, so as a last effort I started syringe feeding her. I’d gently put food on her lower beak for her to eat with her tongue. After 2 syringe feedings she suddenly started eating it straight from the bowl. I guess she finally put it together haha.

She is doing okay for her situation. If she takes a turn for the worse I will cull her, but as of now she’s acting normal and I have hope she will continue to do well. Thankfully, she’s very friendly. I feel like this would have been stressful and almost impossible to do with a flighty bird.

Just posting to share

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Just waiting for her to heal up a little more before putting her back out. She can eat and drink on her own.
An older pic of her from before (and not covered in dirt)

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Mine looks just like this and it happened recently - what did you feed in the syringe?
How long did she last?

 

[Jessandchickens]

Mine looks just like this and it happened recently - what did you feed in the syringe?
How long did she last?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

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Just waiting for her to heal up a little more before putting her back out. She can eat and drink on her own.
An older pic of her from before (and not covered in dirt)

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She looks like a little dinosaur roaring.

I imagine she'd have a better time eating with a deep dish