Scissor-Beak Chick

[Tiny Turtle]

So my scissor-beak brahma seems to be doing well at the moment, though she is exceptionally skinny compared to the others that are her age. I'm worried about how thin she is, and we recently combined my "chicks" with my older hens and rooster so they can establish themselves together. I know this is making it harder for her to eat because the other chase her away at the moment. I am really looking for solutions right now, I am going to see if they have a better feed for them to help them gain a little weight and put meat on her and maybe see if I can trim her beak, but is there anything else I can do to maybe help her out? She's already amazed us with how long she has lived so far.
Thanks!

 

[Tiny Turtle]

Here is the most recent picture I have of her.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Wetting down the food might help her ability to eat, so I would try setting a out a dish of moisten ration to see if she can eat more.

 

[Tiny Turtle]

I already wet down their food, but now that they are combined (the chicks and hens) she gets chased away often from the food, I worry because I feel she isn't getting enough food

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Most of my chickens feel thin, they shouldn't feel fat, so maybe she's getting enough and is normal weight for her age, she doesn't look thin or unwell from her photo. You could always pull her out and feed her separately once a day to make sure she's getting enough. If she doesn't eat much than she's doing okay, if she gobbles it down you will know she's not getting enough and she will have an opportunity to eat more.

 

[Tiny Turtle]

I just say shes thin because she's a lot smaller than the other buff brahmas I have, when I go to pick her up she is really easy to get a hold of and the other 2 take more effort to pick up

 

[Tiny Turtle]

Here is a picture with her and the other 2, its hard to tell because the photo was more aimed at the scissor beak

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Considering how severe her beak is, she must have some spunk to be doing so well, though she will probably be undersized because of it, I think she will be okay. Another option is you could get a scale to weigh her weekly to see if she's gaining weight.

 

[Tiny Turtle]

Yeah, I expected her to be smaller than the others but was getting concerned about her size and how much she was eating. She is definitely a unique one, always greets me at the gate with the others and follows me around. I can't wait to see if she'll make it to laying eggs, she has surprised us all, even if she doesn't make it, I'm still happy with how far she has made it.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Many would have culled her by now, so she's lucky she has you and that she can live a happy life. She sounds like a great chicken and she will be one who you will always remember and think fondly of after she goes. Hopefully it's not for a few years.