Scissorbeak hen asking for help

[User635240]

Hi BYC peeps, this is a one year old Orpington hen with severe scissorbeak. She has grown normally. Lately I noticed she is always underfoot (standing near or under me) in the coop. Yesterday she appeared perched on the propane tank of my RV which is outside of her coop and range - her first time there. Is she asking me for help? What does she want?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Perhaps she's hungry?

Even though she's managed to grow, she may benefit from an extra daily feeding. Try Torpedo feeding her and see if that helps.

Instructions and video in the link below.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...eeding-what-is-it-and-when-to-use-it.1532744/

 

[User635240]

Perhaps she's hungry?

Even though she's managed to grow, she may benefit from an extra daily feeding. Try Torpedo feeding her and see if that helps.

Instructions and video in the link below.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...eeding-what-is-it-and-when-to-use-it.1532744/

Maybe her beak has overgrown so much she can't eat at all?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Maybe her beak has overgrown so much she can't eat at all?

Could be, I don't know.
You'll have to watch to see if she's actually getting food into her - check her crop fill when she goes to roost. If she's not getting enough, then torpedo feeding her would be a good idea.

 

[LaFleche]

Check her weight by sitting her on a scale. The plumage can hide a lot and feign a healthy body weight when in reality the bird underneath is rather slim or even emaciated.

I would trim/file her beak as it seems overgrown which can make it even more difficult to feed themselves properly for a birds suffering from severe scissors beak.

 

[User635240]

Could be, I don't know.
You'll have to watch to see if she's actually getting food into her - check her crop fill when she goes to roost. If she's not getting enough, then torpedo feeding her would be a good idea.

She was hungry @Wyorp Rock

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Poor girl!

Was she being kept from food?
It's good that you have her caged so she can eat. You may have to do this daily to ensure she's getting enough.

 

[User635240]

No Of course not. The flock has free access during the day to 22% non GMO mash. I examined her briefly yesterday and it seems like she can open her beak. I'll check again today to see if there's anything else going on.

Poor girl!

Was she being kept from food?
It's good that you have her caged so she can eat. You may have to do this daily to ensure she's getting enough.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

No Of course not. The flock has free access during the day to 22% non GMO mash. I examined her briefly yesterday and it seems like she can open her beak. I'll check again today to see if there's anything else going on.

Oh, I didn't mean you were keeping her from food!
Sometimes shyer and/or weaker birds are bullied/kept from feed by members of the flock. Chickens can be not so nice at times.

In one of my flocks, I have an old Barred Rock who tolerates only 1 other hen (her friend) to eat next to her...with that flock, I have several feed stations so she can eat where she likes, the others take the other feeders - she can't control them all.

My other flock, those hens can get a little snippy with one another, so they have a couple of feed stations too. Gamefowl hens - you aim for calm and peace...