What's wrong with her beak? Black spots all over!

[JJ--]

hi My Swedish flower pullet (purchased in June at 4 weeks old and still has not laid an egg!) has black spots on her beak! She is the Omega of the flock and I noticed that she was huddling from the cold and not eating much. I think the other girls were stealing her food even though we have multiple feeders. We brought her inside and did some hand feeding and she nearly ate my finger off. We are giving her warm oatmeal with a mash of meal worms, regular chicken feed and some vitamin. This summer she nearly cracked her upper beak off and I thought it had healed but am surprised by these black spots. When taken away from the girls she has energy.

 

[Rusty Rooster MAC]

It takes a long time for beaks to heal, it's a slow process. I suspect the marks are bruises and are part of the healing process. If not, I wouldnt worry about it.
Birds with beak injuries require special care and I recommend that you keep her separated from the others until her beak completely heals, it will take time to completely heal.

The reason why the other birds wouldnt let her eat is because they "sensed" she had an injury. It is survival of the fittest in the animal world, including chickens. Cruel it seems, but that's the way it is in the animal and chicken world.
Now you know why she scoffed down the chow you provided.

It would be best to cage her. Then to make it easier for her to eat, and her beak to heal quicker, provide a watery gruel of chicken feed mixed with a little dried meal worms to eat. The soft food will be better than "hard" pecking at her food which could cause further injury. Put the gruel in a deep bowl, that way she wont be hard pecking the bottom of the bowl.

Do this for a couple weeks and hopefully the beak will have healed enough to return her back with the others. Keep the cage as clean as possible and provide drinking water. The water in the gruel wont be enough to keep her hydrated while caged. Besides, you'll have to add water to the gruel because the feed soaks up the water. Keep the gruel fresh daily.
Dont forget there might be a reintegration issue when you return her to the flock. You'll have to deal with that.

 

[AlleysChicks]

Mine was hatched in April, laid about 2 weeks in November then started molting. She took forever to start laying. She was the last from my April batch to lay. As for the dark spots on the beak, I’m pretty sure mine has them as well but I’ll double check when I go out to feed and water.

 

[JJ--]

Do you also have a Swedish flower? This is my first one of this breed. Wasn't sure if delayed egg laying and brown spots were normal with this breed.

 

[JJ--]

Alley chick----Also wondering is yours with the brown spots at the bottom of the pecking order? I am wondering if she is getting pecked in the beak by the others?

 

[sourland]

To me it doesn't appear as if there is anything wrong with her beak. How large is the coop, and how far apart are the feeders? It sounds as if she is being bullied away from the feed.

 

[AlleysChicks]

Yes she’s a Swedish Flower. I’ve not noticed who is in charge in that coop. (Probably the bantam pullet) Everyone seems equal for the most part.

 

[JJ--]

Wow!!! You SF is sooooo much bigger than mine!!!! I must have had the "runt of the litter" (not sure the chicken analogy for that).

Mine is tiny.....

 

[JJ--]

Did you see if yours had spots in beak as well???

 

[AlleysChicks]

Wow!!! You SF is sooooo much bigger than mine!!!! I must have had the "runt of the litter" (not sure the chicken analogy for that).

Mine is tiny.....

She’ll fill out, give her time. Mine is still smaller than others her age. Except for those bantams lol

Did you see if yours had spots in beak as well???

She has spots. Maybe it’s normal? She’s the only one I have.