Split beak

[BuffetChicken]

We have a fox that is determined to have chicken dinner. I corral the flock before dusk to keep them safer from foxes (with one nearly fatal mistake two nights ago, described in my introduction). Tonight the fox was clawing at the hardware cloth around the run. These chickens are feisty! Two nights ago, three rallied for their friend, circling around the fox (who was holding their friend) jumping and squawking.

Tonight as the fox tried to claw into the run, rather than go up into the coop or at least away from the run wall, the chickens were up against the same hardware cloth the fox was trying to pull off. They were jumping and squawking again. One's beak broke or split in the process. I don't know whether she caught it in the hardware cloth or whether the fox managed to bite or claw it. Her beak is bloody now, and when I tried to wipe away the blood, I could see it's cracked through. A picture is attached, although it doesn't show much other than a bloody beak. It's hard to photograph chickens!

I don't know what to do. Does she need any topical antiseptic? Do I need to try to trim off the broken part? (I hope not. That would be a mighty challenge.) Something else?

Thanks for taking the time to read this and for any advice you may have.

Be well!

 

[tripletfeb]

Just make sure she can eat and drink and make sure they have oyster shell on the side to eat. As long as she can eat and drink on her own, she will be fine, just leave her alone. The main problem is getting rid of that fox. It is clearly stressing out your chickens and is a safety concern. Trap and get rid of it. It will make it's way into the run one of these times.

 

[Hens rule]

That’s similar to something that happened to one of my roosters once. I used topical antibiotic on it a few times daily until it was mostly healed up. Also soft food may be helpful if she has a hard time with her normal food.

 

[BuffetChicken]

Just make sure she can eat and drink and make sure they have oyster shell on the side to eat. As long as she can eat and drink on her own, she will be fine, just leave her alone. The main problem is getting rid of that fox. It is clearly stressing out your chickens and is a safety concern. Trap and get rid of it. It will make it's way into the run one of these times.

The fox is stressing me out, too! I'm at a loss for how to get rid of it or at least keep it out of the yard. The fence is a wood privacy fence, at least 6' and on one line 7'. I never had any doubt a fox could jump it, but I didn't think it would jump it without being able to see what's on the other side that might nab it. But, I'm learning hunger is a monumental motivator.

 

[BuffetChicken]

That’s similar to something that happened to one of my roosters once. I used topical antibiotic on it a few times daily until it was mostly healed up. Also soft food may be helpful if she has a hard time with her normal food.

Thanks. Just add some warm water to the feed? It's not pellets. Maybe it's considered crumble. It's this.

 

[tripletfeb]

Thanks. Just add some warm water to the feed? It's not pellets. Maybe it's considered crumble. It's this.

Yes, you can add warm water to her food if she's not eating. Personally, if you see her eat the dry food, I wouldn't add water. I didn't when one of my pullets cracked her beak on the hardware cloth. For the fox, put out baited traps. Then when you get it, get rid of it. I would shoot it with a .22 but however you do it, just do it

 

[microchick]

Depending on where you live the fox could be considered a danger to livestock and you would be allowed to shoot it. Please check with your local conservation office. We had problem foxes here a few years back. Everyone lost chickens to her and her kits except me. Fort Knox run and metal clad hen house. Found fox and kit prints all around the run but no breaches.

A call to the conservation department was enlightening. It's almost impossible to catch a fox in a live trap. They are too smart I was told. You have to use foot hold traps, but here in MO where there is a LOT of livestock, once they attack or kill chickens they are considered a danger to livestock and can be legally shot on sight.

As for the beak. I've three roosters who broke beaks fighting. One splintered his beak. two others broke the upper beak almost to their nostrils. I trimmed off any shards that made it hard for them to eat but they do remarkably well and heal beautifully. I agree. Soft food for her and make sure her bowl is deep enough that she can scoop feed up with her lower beak. That is what my boys did.

Takes them months to regrow that beak but it will regrow. Two of them have slightly shorter upper beaks now but I keep the lower beak manicured for them. They seem to know what I'm doing and hold perfectly still while I'm nipping and sanding.