Will a clipped beak grow back

[minksroost]

We recently bought a 16 wk Red sex link and she has had her beak clipped. It's not a pretty job. We are totally against this but I felt sorry for her really and she was a little cutie. I've already noticed that she can't really pick up seed off the ground. The top beak is shorter as I've read in other posts and the shape is ok. However, the bottom beak looks terrible. It's forked, so she really has no way to pick up anything. I make sure the dish is full so she can eat. I'm concerned about her drinking and very concerned if her beak doesn't grow back. I've read so many opionions. Yes.. No... there has to be someone out there that has had a younger chicken with a clipped beak that can say with 100% certainly that the beak either grew back or didn't. Please provide feedback if you have or know it to be accurate the the beak WILL grow back and if you know how long it takes to do so. If the beak won't grow back we will have to find out something to do to improve the shape of the bottom. I would start with our avian vet. We just bought her on Saturday 3/16/13. Suggestions, thoughts, experience welcome!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I've never heard of a beak growing back.

 

[minksroost]

not sure if you know the answer to this or not. Do you think our avian vet can reshape the bottom so she can at least peak?

 

[AnotherSusan]

I have two whose top beak only were clipped. It has been almost a year and the top is now almost as long as the bottom.

They had no trouble with food in a feeder that they could push their beak down into, but could not pick up anything from the ground.

I have no experience with a damaged bottom beak. I am guessing that the possibility of growing back depends on how far back the beak was clipped.

Good luck with your pullet.

 

[amnich]

This isn't the exact same thing, but these are people also dealing with beak problems:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-for-special-needs-chickens-and-their-keepers

You might find something helpful

 

[Reurra]

I have a comet that was clipped as a baby. Often times they cauterize the beak with a special clipping tool so it does not grow back. My girl is a year old and its never grown out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debeaking

It sounds like whoever did it was an idiot and clipped both top and bottom. Maybe offer her a mash or crumbles. It might be easier for her. My girl does pretty well, though her bottom is normal length, the top is very short, right up to her nostrils. Since she cant get scratch as easy on the ground, i put some in the feeder for her and she is able to get to it.

 

[minksroost]

Not being able to scratch and peak at the ground is a major concern to me. Not to mention any pain she may be in. Yes, either her bottom beak was deformed at birth and they "did" only clip the top or they are idiots, agreed. I talked to the avian vet today and have an appt tomorrow. I want to see if there is something they can do to her beak so that she can peak, scratch, etc. like the other chickens. Thanks to all! I will post what the vet says. Fingers crossed he has a solution!

 

[minksroost]

Amnich, Thank you so much for the link. What inspirational stories. I applaud those folks. You don't know how many people would just say - get rid of them - "it's just a chicken"... I'll take a picture of my Baby and post tomorrow. thanks again!

 

[Reurra]

Here are pictures of my debeaked girls.




This is Frightful, I had to put her down because she became eggbound.




This is Cracker, she is still with us, but she is now bald because of our rooster favor her above all others lol.

 

[Nambroth]

If she was clipped and cauterized as a day old chick.. then no, her beak will not grow back. The bed of cells and nerves that grow the beak has been damaged beyond healing. Poor girl.

Your vet may be able to shape her lower mandible to help her peck better, but it really depends on how far back she was beak clipped. The vet can only dremmel so much of the lower beak before it hurts her, as they do have nerves in the beak and despite what some would tell you, they are not as deep as people realize.
There are birds that get prosthetic attachments for their beaks-- I have met an eagle and a hornbill with such things, but they require a lot of specialized work, surgery, and a LOT of money! I am sure that none of us here can readily afford it.

Your option if the vet cannot help much is to provide her with deep blows of feed so that she can 'scoop' with her lower mandible. She may never be able to peck at the ground properly

You'll have to let us know how it went at the vet!