"Split" beak?

[tulie13]

Out of all my chickens, my Easter Eggers have been the least "friendly" as they have been growing up. My first batch of birds included 24 chicks, with another 8 following behind them in the brooder 1 month later for a total of 32. I lost one Speckled Sussex to continuing crop issues, RIP Chicken Little.

So I still have 31 to keep up with, which can make it hard to get good regular looks at EACH BIRD. I was out in the coop yesterday and one of my EE's was actually sitting still and not running away from me, and I realized that the top half of her beak was sort of split into a V. She almost looks like she's trying to be "vampire chicken".

She seems healthy, is actually one of my larger birds, etc. Do I need to worry about this at all?

 

[FlashPointFarm]

I would worry if she didn't run away from you and usually does. That's very odd. Is it bleeding at all?

 

[tulie13]

Quote:
No, they "all" run away from me - their behaviors have been changing over time. She just happened to be on a higher perch watching me for sudden movements. I'm sure she was READY to run away!

So I just happened to get a good look at her beak while her face was about 4 feet off the ground and sitting still. It was just luck - not really a "behavior change".
Edited to add: No it's not bleeding, doesn't look ragged or anything - looks more like a birth defect of some sort. Like the beak instead of coming into a "V" as in "one pointy beak" it is sort of like a "W", like a double beak on top. It seems to not be affecting how much she can eat, she's one of my bigger ones, actually.

 

[mypicklebird]

Photo?

 

[FlashPointFarm]

If she's got good weight, I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[tulie13]

Quote:
Can someone tell me how to insert a pic? I don't see an "attach" or "insert" button as a choice here...

I'll see if I can get one. I also have another thread going about whether my 8 RIR "pullets" are actually roos...

I need to post pics for that, too.

 

[FlashPointFarm]

This should help you with posting pix.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=504

 

[tulie13]

Quote:
THANKS!

Now to get the chickens to stand still long enough...

And I'm going to have to get that EE to "smile" at me...

 

[calgal98]

I have three older hens that I got as layers three years ago. They had had their beaks clipped to prevent pecking by the previous owner. All three developed the split beak as they got older. I believe that the beak had been weakened by the clip and as it grew it split. They all do fine on my pelleted ration. I have trimmed off some of the excess growth on the sides of the beak to try to limit the split. I've had them for 30 months, so I guess they haven't been too bothered by it.