Trimming chicken beaks?

[BrewedInNh]

Since we're talking about beaks...

We have a Wyandotte with an odd beak. It looks like it's flaking, or chipped. She's eating and drinking fine. She's about 28 weeks old, and she lays large light brown eggs about every 3rd day now.

Has anyone else seen anything like this before?

 

[ParadiseFoundFarm]

max.whitecat :

Hello- I'm new to keeping chickens. I had 5 chicks in June that a weasel got to - killed 3 the other 2 were injured. 1 was bitten on the head & I thought she'd lost her eye, but she hadn't - however she developed a strange beak, the top is curling over (my sister who runs a farm thinks maybe the weasel bit into a nerve causing her beak to 'slip'). Today it seems that the curl is now sitting on top of the lower beak& she has sores by her eye - presumably the others are pecking her- poor darling.
My question is I think she needs a beak trim but I dont want to trim too far - are there any photos/diagrams that show where the quick is? Also how can I treat the scabby area around her eye??
I may chicken out & take her to the vet...
She is my favourite & I call her beaky!
Thanks Lisa

First :

Peruse the injuries/Emergency Section. You can find how to give 1st aid there.​

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
She broke the tip off and it's growing back. Should be normal in a few months.

 

[BeccaSmith]

Great thread, I was just trying to gain as much info as possible for an indoor hen. I just noticed her beak is really over grown, probably from being indoors due to not being well. Her beak is like a hook but is not pointy, it is squared off. I believe this is why she is not able to eat layer pellets very well and has lost weight. My husband wants to use a dremel, but I am thinking that is not such a good idea now after reading this thread. I have dog toenail clippers I just bought to trim her toenails that I can use. I read human nail clippers will work as well. Perhaps I will stop at the store and buy some human nail files for her beak as well. Thanks for all the great info!

 

[jonichole]

I've just started looking into deformed beaks and how to take care of issues... the reason for this?
- My 2 mo old Polish has developed a severe "hook" to its beak (just the upper part) and the bottom doesnt seem to be growing as long as it should.
I believe this is the reason of its being waaaay under weight and smaller that all the other birds I got at the same time (same breed too).

I'm thinking about trimming her beak so she can eat more and have what I think will be a better chance to normalize... but... like I said its a severe hook and the bottom isnt that long. I'm afraid i'll be cutting off way too much if I cut the upper back to the length of the lower.

Has anyone had this issue or have any suggestions for me? I'm having issues even finding pics of examples on the internet :\
when I go home today, I'll have to tack a pic so I can post what I'm talking about.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated- I'm worried and feel so sorry for this under-developing bird!!

 

[cdb1949]

Wow, I definitely learned something today. We found some hens for a friend who lost hers in a tornado. One of the hens had a deformed beak, overlapped and twisted. She could not open her beak. Our friend said she trimmed the beak and the hen searched and found the food and ate for a while. I had never heard of trimming a beak, thanks for the info, (I was thinking, freezer)
Connie, Eastview, TN

 

[roostersandhens]

my chickens beaks stay the same size. I do not think they are like nails i am pretty sure it would be painfull for them to get their beaks trimed.

 

[roostersandhens]

Since we're talking about beaks...

We have a Wyandotte with an odd beak. It looks like it's flaking, or chipped. She's eating and drinking fine. She's about 28 weeks old, and she lays large light brown eggs about every 3rd day now.

Has anyone else seen anything like this before?

That is strange she is a pretty girl though

 

[EternalOptimist]

We have some older chickens, and just as with any other animal, sometimes they need a little help with their personal care as they age. One of our girls, who is about five years old, is mostly blind and appears to be a bit senile. But she eats and drinks and is as sweet as can be. We noticed the other day that her beak was long and curved and that she was having trouble getting food from the feeder. I don't think she is wearing her beak down naturally anymore as the others do. I thank those on this thread who provided suggestions on how to trim her beak. We used a cat's nail trimmer and it worked great. And now she is eating normally. So yes, the beak grows just like our fingernails or a horse's hooves and under normal circumstances the chickens keep the beak short through natural wear and tear.

 

[JP Rooster]

This is actually a natural instinct for all breeds of chickens as well as fowl in general, even song birds. Unlike cats sharpening their claws, most fowl do this to clean their beaks and it gives the appearance of honing or sharpening their beaks which is false.