Check the inside of the metal feeder. Another BYC'er was warning me a while back about some of them having very sharp edges on the inside of the holes. Seems the same thing was happening to some ducks. I checked mine and the edges were not sharp.
Um, are my 1 week old's beaks supposed to be falling off?!?!
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I tried taking a pic, but my camera is crappy and it was all blurry, and when I take the pic further away you can't see the problem...ARGH!
I checked the feeder, its not sharp, and I doubted that was the issue because I raised over a hundred chicks last year with that feeder and a few more like it and never saw this issue. I am thinking its the roo, because upon closer inspection, the mystery chick looked like his beak was starting to do the same thing, and I am 99% sure this same roo is his dad. I'm going to reinforce the beaks that are left w/nail polish, and do what I can to make this poor baby comfy till I can gather my nerves to do what I must.
The feed is game bird starter, so they are getting LOTS of protein...we are going to start watering it down with a touch of ground corn.
THere are no holes or wire... my brooder is a 100 gallon plastic watering trough that I stole from DH's cows... also, raised tons of babies in this brooder last year with no issues like this!
I checked the feeder, its not sharp, and I doubted that was the issue because I raised over a hundred chicks last year with that feeder and a few more like it and never saw this issue. I am thinking its the roo, because upon closer inspection, the mystery chick looked like his beak was starting to do the same thing, and I am 99% sure this same roo is his dad. I'm going to reinforce the beaks that are left w/nail polish, and do what I can to make this poor baby comfy till I can gather my nerves to do what I must.
The feed is game bird starter, so they are getting LOTS of protein...we are going to start watering it down with a touch of ground corn.
THere are no holes or wire... my brooder is a 100 gallon plastic watering trough that I stole from DH's cows... also, raised tons of babies in this brooder last year with no issues like this!
Are the chicks with any larger chickens that could be injuring them?
I'd check everything in the brooder--- feeders, waterers, etc, *just in case* there are edges, etc that they're catching on-- side of brooder, flooring, anything. It could be genetic, but I'm having a hard time picturing what's happening-- is the whole beak coming off/ out of the upper lip/face of the chick? Or does it appear broken? The beak is attached by more beak material sort of inside it's face- so there are long edges on each side if the beak has come out completely. Or does it have a snapped off appearance, or is it more like an ulceration, cracking, chipping?? Got a friend with a good macro setting on a camera?
Tell hubby to relax- things happen-- all we can do is try to figure out what it is to avoid it in the future.
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I'd check everything in the brooder--- feeders, waterers, etc, *just in case* there are edges, etc that they're catching on-- side of brooder, flooring, anything. It could be genetic, but I'm having a hard time picturing what's happening-- is the whole beak coming off/ out of the upper lip/face of the chick? Or does it appear broken? The beak is attached by more beak material sort of inside it's face- so there are long edges on each side if the beak has come out completely. Or does it have a snapped off appearance, or is it more like an ulceration, cracking, chipping?? Got a friend with a good macro setting on a camera?
Tell hubby to relax- things happen-- all we can do is try to figure out what it is to avoid it in the future.
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If it's not too badly broken/damaged and you find out what causes the problem and rectify it the tip of the beak should grow back.
It could be vitamin deficiency although I'd think that would take longer than a few weeks to set in.
Possibly a mite infestation - Knemidokoptes pilae - like scaly leg but on the beak and wattles.
A genetic defect sounds good if it's only affecting one breed but with such small numbers it would be hard to make the case stick.
More information on the state of the beak might be of use, even a bad picture will help everyone to visualize what you mean better.
I meant to add to this that if you do nail polish the beaks, don't use nail polish remover to take it off again later. The remover is much more potent than the polish.
It could be vitamin deficiency although I'd think that would take longer than a few weeks to set in.
Possibly a mite infestation - Knemidokoptes pilae - like scaly leg but on the beak and wattles.
A genetic defect sounds good if it's only affecting one breed but with such small numbers it would be hard to make the case stick.
More information on the state of the beak might be of use, even a bad picture will help everyone to visualize what you mean better.
I meant to add to this that if you do nail polish the beaks, don't use nail polish remover to take it off again later. The remover is much more potent than the polish.
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Wow, how weird is that? Must be something genetic. So sorry for this horrendous loss
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There arent any visible edges sticking out, its all bloody, like it broke off... its definitely only affecting the cochin bantams. They are with guineas who are one week older, and the guineas are pretty much afraid of the chicks...I doubt that the guineas are tearing anyone's face off...
nothing looks to be affecting the comb or wattles at all, and the bottom beak is fine, but the top one is just, gone/melting away...
nothing looks to be affecting the comb or wattles at all, and the bottom beak is fine, but the top one is just, gone/melting away...
Are these chicks your own, from your own cockerel and hen, or are they bought in?
I ask because it sounds like you know the rooster. The chances of getting bad genes on a whole clutch from a rooster who has previously not produced deformities are quite slim.
Is your feed fresh? There's no mould or anything? Do you have a lot of pigeons around?
There is a fungus that causes cryptococcosis, readily spread through pigeon droppings, which causes inflammation in the nasal passages and soft tissues around the nose. It can also break down the keratin cover of the beak exposing the softer inside part of the beak. I don't know for sure if this disease affects chickens I think it is mostly restricted to parrots (although it does affect humans, cats, dogs and all sorts of other animals).
I ask because it sounds like you know the rooster. The chances of getting bad genes on a whole clutch from a rooster who has previously not produced deformities are quite slim.
Is your feed fresh? There's no mould or anything? Do you have a lot of pigeons around?
There is a fungus that causes cryptococcosis, readily spread through pigeon droppings, which causes inflammation in the nasal passages and soft tissues around the nose. It can also break down the keratin cover of the beak exposing the softer inside part of the beak. I don't know for sure if this disease affects chickens I think it is mostly restricted to parrots (although it does affect humans, cats, dogs and all sorts of other animals).
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These are my fist hatching attempt on a 1.5 year old pair of bantam cochins i got at TSC last spring. Fancy Pants is the family favorite roo, so yes we know him. He and Beatrice do not have anything weird with their beaks.
Its a brand new bag of feed, kept in a tight container, no mold, and its in my garage so no pigeons could access it, if they dared come on my property in the first place. The other chick and the guineas are eating this feed as well and not having this issue. Only the black babies, and Fancy Pants is my only black roo.
Its a brand new bag of feed, kept in a tight container, no mold, and its in my garage so no pigeons could access it, if they dared come on my property in the first place. The other chick and the guineas are eating this feed as well and not having this issue. Only the black babies, and Fancy Pants is my only black roo.
- Aug 27, 2009
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Hi,
Just wanted to say that my Delaware is missing her top beak almost entirely....I mean 97.5% gone!
Coon attack 4 weeks ago....
bottom beak is not 75% gone....
She can still eat.....she cannot pick at bugs as well as she would like to but she can eat.....i watch her closely and she does get her layer pellets down....she has to pick peck peck peck and usually by the 4th or 5th peck gets one down.....I know this is a baby chick but who knows....maybe shell be ok?? I also feed long spaghetti noodles dipped in her layer pettet mash I make....this was she gets some good stuff in her too.
Good luck.
Just wanted to say that my Delaware is missing her top beak almost entirely....I mean 97.5% gone!
Coon attack 4 weeks ago....
bottom beak is not 75% gone....
She can still eat.....she cannot pick at bugs as well as she would like to but she can eat.....i watch her closely and she does get her layer pellets down....she has to pick peck peck peck and usually by the 4th or 5th peck gets one down.....I know this is a baby chick but who knows....maybe shell be ok?? I also feed long spaghetti noodles dipped in her layer pettet mash I make....this was she gets some good stuff in her too.
Good luck.
I don't know is there is a 'rotten beak' gene, perhaps someone else may be able to help, but most (if not all) of the fatal/lethal genes are lethal either during incubation or just after hatching and are statistically very unlikley to affect a whole clutch.
I sure you you find out what the problem is - I'll watch this thread with interest.
On a cheerier note our previous number 1 rooster was (and still is although he's pretty close to the big ole chicken coop in the sky) called Mr Fancy (without the pants !!). Beatrice is really cute name.
I sure you you find out what the problem is - I'll watch this thread with interest.
On a cheerier note our previous number 1 rooster was (and still is although he's pretty close to the big ole chicken coop in the sky) called Mr Fancy (without the pants !!). Beatrice is really cute name.
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