Twisted/Overgrown beak

[LupineLass]

This morning I noticed one of my ladies has something "not right" with her lower beak. It's starting to grow to the side I fear it may be a result of damage sustained during a thrill killing spree by a dog some weeks ago.

At the time I assessed the hens and all looked fine with no visible damage except for the 2 that were killed but since then this one's beak just doesn't seem to want to be straight.

Really considering having a vet look at her but hubby says he will eat her before spending money we don't really have at the vet for "just a hen" OMG they are my ladies who contribute to our food supply not just a food source, what is wrong with men.


At this stage it isn't affecting her eating or in any other way that I've noticed. They roam and forage about 4hrs daily will it sort itself out since its not overly long (maybe protrudes 1/8 inch) to the left or should I try clipping it back and if so is it possible for me to mess it up and have her bleed to death or something.

 

[HaulnFetch]

You don't say how old the chicken is but, I am assuming from your description that it is an adult or at least close. I am hardly an expert. In fact calling me a novice is pushing it. We received a chick from the hatchery that soon displayed a crossed beak. We decided to watch her rather than cull her right away. She has continued to thrive and it now 5 1/2 months old.

The beak did continue to grow and appeared to be interfering with her eating and drinking. We tried to trim it ourselves. We read you could trim 1/8" or so without damage. We managed to draw blood but used quik stop which took care of that problem but I wasn't going to try it again.

We took her to a vet that works with livestock and she was able to trim the beak back quite a bit using a laser. It cost all of $20.00.

Tufus (her name - it stands for "too ugly for us") is quite inventive and has figured out how to cope with the crooked and overgrown beak and eats and drinks just fine. Did I also mention she is also missing one eye? Its a hoot to watch her run !

Like I said, I know virtually nothing about chicken medicine, but Tufus has done ok and it was worth $20. The vet also said that there is a procedure where the cut / trim is cauterized at the same time which prevents re-growth. She did not have the equipment but the nearby university does. I have no clue what that costs.

 

[LupineLass]

Thanks for the reply,

She's only started laying eggs in the last couple of weeks that's as close to an age as I can give you since they were half grown when I aquired them from someone with little interest in them once the fluff wore off.

It doesn't seem to be getting longer which kind of tells me something got twisted somewhere probably during the dog attack and the other side of her beak is growing normally now and almost straight. The distorted side has almost like a "cut here" line starting to show in it where it should be and then has the added bit on the side.

If I could convince her to sit still I'd try getting a photo.

I remember grandad used to trim and singe hens beaks if they got too long without ever losing one but I am a bit of a sook when it comes to my ladies.

At the moment there's no discomfort or interference with her eating so I was kind of hoping it would either wear back straight since it's sort of growing straight behind the bent bit or maybe chip away when she's having a play date in the rockery.

These hens think they are dogs and spend ages chasing each other through the gardens as well as chasing our dogs and being chased back. The site of a rottweiler and a hen playing tag is hilarious. He is ever so gently when it's his turn to tag gets them cornered drops his large foot on them lightly then runs like the devils chasing him only its a small hen who follows him until he trips over his big feet then pecks his tail and runs off and the whole procedure is repeated until everyone is too hot to move then they have a drink and lay under the tree in the wet dirt and cool off together.