Lately it appears I have gotten method down for salvaging chickens with grievous bill damage. First example below is minor relative to what has been dealt with since. Nastier cases will be shown later.
This had upper bill damaged by fighting a couple of months ago resulting in much of horn being lost. As a result the lower bill began to grow improperly to elongate.
This was more than just a cosmetic problem. As the mismatch increased she lossed the ability to pick up small particles without jamming her bill into something soft below item she was trying to consume. Even larger individuals became more difficult to consume. She also lost the ability to shear plant parts. Result was she began to loose weight and became feed-bucket aggressive she was always famished. To compensate I set out feed bucket so she could jam her head down into feed. That allowed her to ingest enough feed to enabling some restoration of weight.
Approach for correction involved cutting lower bill so it is slightly behind upper. The cause some bleeding that stopped in under a minute.
She still has a mismatch although she can pickup medium to larger particulates without trouble. Notice she still has a gap at tip that degrades ability to consume smaller particulates. Both upper and lower parts of bill will lengthen with regrowth although will not appear normal. Hopefully upper and lower parts of bill will tighten up at tip and along base. Idieally the upper bill should also overhang lower slighty around sides along length of bill. Additional cutting may be needed but those will be months away.
This had upper bill damaged by fighting a couple of months ago resulting in much of horn being lost. As a result the lower bill began to grow improperly to elongate.
This was more than just a cosmetic problem. As the mismatch increased she lossed the ability to pick up small particles without jamming her bill into something soft below item she was trying to consume. Even larger individuals became more difficult to consume. She also lost the ability to shear plant parts. Result was she began to loose weight and became feed-bucket aggressive she was always famished. To compensate I set out feed bucket so she could jam her head down into feed. That allowed her to ingest enough feed to enabling some restoration of weight.
Approach for correction involved cutting lower bill so it is slightly behind upper. The cause some bleeding that stopped in under a minute.
She still has a mismatch although she can pickup medium to larger particulates without trouble. Notice she still has a gap at tip that degrades ability to consume smaller particulates. Both upper and lower parts of bill will lengthen with regrowth although will not appear normal. Hopefully upper and lower parts of bill will tighten up at tip and along base. Idieally the upper bill should also overhang lower slighty around sides along length of bill. Additional cutting may be needed but those will be months away.
Look forward to the next "case".
Makes it fun and could encourage interest.
