Top beak is broken in 2 places

[feathersnuggles]

My 1 year old Wyandotte has a broken beak - the tip is nearly broken off and there's a tear at the top. Pics below. Just discovered this morning - I don't know how she got it. I tried cleaning the top tear with water, then dabbed with bentadine. I don't know what to do for the bigger break totally across her beak tip. I've disinfected & taped broken toenails before, which eventually healed - but I don't know how to disinfect & tape a beak? Help!

What do I do? Can she eat & will her beak heal eventually? She's free-ranging with the rest of the flock right now. Should I let her stay out? I'm concerned about infection.

 

[kelseygirl707]

Ok, so I no nothing about fixing a broken beak, but you can use super glue on humans, I wonder if you could use super glue on a chicken? but you would have to be super careful not to glue her beak shut. But again, I know nothing about repairing beaks.

 

[chickenzoo]

One of the problems with glue is that it gets hot, even though it is only a short time it is heat. And of course the toxic factors being close to the mouth. I would keep her confined to a smaller space and feed her very soft mushy food. Like a broken toe nail, it is painful and will take some time to harden up and the nerves to get less sensitive.

 

[feathersnuggles]

Quote:
Thanks! I haven't glued anythng because I was concerned she might ingest the glue. So, about a hour ago I fed her a soft scrambled egg (one of her own, so it was a good one) and it was mixed with layer crumbles, ACV, raw kefir and 4 drops of Polyvisol vitamins. She ate that soft food, readily. Although I could see how gently she was using her beak to scoop it up. Afterwards she didn't try to wipe her beak, like they normally do. So, I rinsed it in warm water and dabbed some bentadine on the broken tip.

Any idea how long it takes for the beak to lose sensitivity? Also, do you have an opinions about the broken tip, especially since it is no longer aligned with the lower beak? Will it heal? And will it heal crooked?

 

[chickenzoo]

The bottom tip will probably break off, or later should be cut off with nail clippers to keep it from catching on things. The upper break will have to grow out in time.

 

[Falcon61]

Bloody nose. I'd leave it alone, glue is toxic and chickens a tough.

 

[feathersnuggles]

Quote:
Thanks, I put her into a large dog carrier in our living room, draped with towels. She has settled down on the straw, and the last couple of hours she's been very quiet. I'm not terribly worried about the upper break, because it's relatively flat and out of the way of feeding & watering. The lower tip is what concerns me. Will it regrow or will it just break off, as you say.

 

[chickenzoo]

It will probably break off, then as the beak grows down it will reform that area, just like when you trim a long beak or a roosters spurs, it will regrow in time.

 

[feathersnuggles]

Thanks so much chickenzoo. I'm reassured now that she'll be able to recover the normal use of her beak.

I'll keep this posted with her progress.

 

[chickenzoo]

Your welcome. She should be fine (very pretty girl I must say) it will just smart for awhile but in a week she should be almost normal.