Tip of Beak Snapped Off and Wet Pox? What Next T_T

[AmyJane725]

Hey guys,

Two separate issues here, but I discovered them at the same time, so I'll just make one thread. I'm too tired to bounce between multiple ones.

Issue 1: My beloved RIR cockerel ReeBee seems to have snapped off the tip of his upper beak (as well as a bit of the sides of it. I first noticed when I went to give him some greens and he was taking them from me unusually gingerly. I'm pretty sure he's in either in pain, or has his foraging abilities reduced for physiological reasons because I took him out for a few minutes of free ranging and he couldn't rip off chunks of grass blades like he usually can.

Now, I know when the entire beak (or a really large portion of it) is removed it won't ever grow back, but I think this is kinda like a dog toenail when you cut too close to the quick and it hurts a lot and stuff, but eventually the nail grows back. It's just the extra that's missing and the "quick" of his beak is exposed I think. The edge parts that are missing I'm not so sure about, but the tip at least I'm hoping will come back. Here are the best photos I could get:

Is there anything I can do for him to make it less painful?

Issue 2: One of the BLRW chicks in my grow out pen seems to have wet pox. I observed him standing toward the back of the pen doing the open mouthed breathing thing. I caught him and looked inside and there was a huge wad of pus in his throat (causing the breathing difficulties).
I used some tweezers and got out as much of the pus as I could. It was a lot for such a little guy. Poor thing. His breathing has improved and I don't see anymore buildup forming yet. He still eats and drinks and runs around like usual. I know it's a virus and it has to pass on its own. I guess I'm more wondering if all of the rest of them have it too probably? (I checked one other chick but no puss or anything). I mean, they're all exposed, right? And once it passes they'll be immune to this particular strain?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Issue 1: My beloved RIR cockerel ReeBee seems to have snapped off the tip of his upper beak (as well as a bit of the sides of it.

Issue 2: One of the BLRW chicks in my grow out pen seems to have wet pox. I observed him standing toward the back of the pen doing the open mouthed breathing thing. I caught him and looked inside and there was a huge wad of pus in his throat (causing the breathing difficulties).
I used some tweezers and got out as much of the pus as I could.

His breathing has improved and I don't see anymore buildup forming yet. He still eats and drinks and runs around like usual. I know it's a virus and it has to pass on its own. I guess I'm more wondering if all of the rest of them have it too probably?

I would leave the beak alone for a few days to let it toughen/harden back up. It's slightly jagged. After that, you can gently file it to smooth and shape it. He might be sore, but if he's drinking well and able to eat, he should be fine. If he's having a hard time picking up crumbles/pellets, you can give him some wet feed.

Do you have photos of the inside of the BLRW beak and of him? Is there a bad odor?
Any other lesions on the comb, pus in the eyes, etc.?
Yes, Fowl Pox can be spread to the others. If you are dealing with Wet Form Fowl Pox, personally, if possible, I would separate him out. Shared feed and water sources can promote the spread, you don't want Wet Form Fowl Pox to inflict your whole flock.
Take steps to sanitize the drinking water as suggested in the article below.
https://the-chicken-chick.com/fowl-pox-prevention-treatmen/

 

[McBriec]

RIR beak issue looks very minor. My vet showed me how to clip and then file a cross beak on one of my hens. When you look at the beak in the light you just want to file down the translucent portion which does not have blood supply. Your beloved boy should be just fine.

 

[AmyJane725]

I would leave the beak alone for a few days to let it toughen/harden back up. It's slightly jagged. After that, you can gently file it to smooth and shape it. He might be sore, but if he's drinking well and able to eat, he should be fine. If he's having a hard time picking up crumbles/pellets, you can give him some wet feed.

Do you have photos of the inside of the BLRW beak and of him? Is there a bad odor?
Any other lesions on the comb, pus in the eyes, etc.?
Yes, Fowl Pox can be spread to the others. If you are dealing with Wet Form Fowl Pox, personally, if possible, I would separate him out. Shared feed and water sources can promote the spread, you don't want Wet Form Fowl Pox to inflict your whole flock.
Take steps to sanitize the drinking water as suggested in the article below.
https://the-chicken-chick.com/fowl-pox-prevention-treatmen/

I gave him some wet food today. He ate lots. I feel like he can probably still eat his crumbles since he doesn't have to peck them apart to eat them, just scoop them up, but I don't mind babying him a little extra for a while.

I do not have any pictures. Sorry. It was very difficult to hold his mouth open enough to get the tweezers in, much less get him to hold still for photos.
I smelled his breath as soon as I picked him up and I didn't smell anything bad. That's how I decided it was pox over canker. Is the odor very distinctive/strong? No puss in the eyes. Only issue was the pus in the throat. He doesn't seem to have dry pox. No skin lesions.

Could I set up a little area for him within the larger pen so he can still see/hear the others, but he'll have his own food and water? I have newborn chicks in the house and I don't want to risk infecting them.

 

[AmyJane725]

RIR beak issue looks very minor. My vet showed me how to clip and then file a cross beak on one of my hens. When you look at the beak in the light you just want to file down the translucent portion which does not have blood supply. Your beloved boy should be just fine.

Oh good! Thanks so much. I'll trim it to shape if necessary once it grows back.