Will underbite grow out?

[Clairenh]

We got our 3 hens as pullets from the local Agway. When we got them, I asked the employee about the visible underbite, worse on Rosie than the other two. She said it is just the natural way the beak grows and it will fix itself. After some research, I think she was either misinformed or lied, I believe their beaks were cut at the farm they came from.

My question - should we try to trim or clip the lower beak so they match up better? She can eat, but has a hard time picking up some stuff like food off of her sisters feathers, etc. Should we just let it be? I think they were hatched in May, so they are not a year old yet.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Looks like she has been "debeaked". This is common practice with hatcheries that sell started pullets and in commercial farm operations. It is used to help deter feather picking and cannibalism since birds are kept in close quarters/pens.

The upper "beak" will not grow back out. For now, I would probably watch how well she does with eating and picking up food. You may be able to file or trim a little off the lower portion if she begins to have problems like weight loss.

Here's more info on debeaking
http://www.poultryhub.org/health/health-management/beak-trimming/

Here's how to trim/file a beak if you feel she needs assistance. Better to just trim/file a little at a time if you decide you need to do this.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/beak-and-claw-trimming.74570/

 

[EggSighted4Life]

After some research, I think she was either misinformed or lied, I believe their beaks were cut at the farm they came from.

Agree.

Yes, I would try to help her. Hopefully the links Wyorp provided will be useful for ya.

 

[Abriana]

I would wet her food when you give it to her. It sticks together in clumps that way and she can scoop it up with her lower beak much easier.

 

[coach723]

Does look like they were debeaked. Making food into a mash can help them eat, and raising feeders and waterers up to shoulder height can also help, that way they can scoop with the lower beak. Many birds adapt and do just fine despite the 'handicap'. If you put a large rock or concrete block in their run they will use it to hone their beaks naturally, which may help with keeping the lower more in line and help reduce the need for you to trim.

 

[Clairenh]

We have been feeding Rosie mash when it isn't zero degrees outside. Today I came home and my BF told me he trimmed her beak, and hit the quick We had already had the trim vs file conversation, and I was against trimming, but I guess his selective hearing was on at that moment... She seems ok, though kind of pissed off, as she should be. She bled on herself, and in the nesting box where he put her to rest. The bleeding is stopped (he put flour on it soon after it happened). There is some dried blood on her feathers that I tried to wipe off, unsuccessfully. Her sisters of course saw that and pecked at her. We are hoping when it's dark and they are all in the coop, no one will see her and by tomorrow we can wipe off any leftover blood. I put her in my lap and she settled down and napped a bit. She had no interest in affection from HIM.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We have been feeding Rosie mash when it isn't zero degrees outside. Today I came home and my BF told me he trimmed her beak, and hit the quick We had already had the trim vs file conversation, and I was against trimming, but I guess his selective hearing was on at that moment... She seems ok, though kind of pissed off, as she should be. She bled on herself, and in the nesting box where he put her to rest. The bleeding is stopped (he put flour on it soon after it happened). There is some dried blood on her feathers that I tried to wipe off, unsuccessfully. Her sisters of course saw that and pecked at her. We are hoping when it's dark and they are all in the coop, no one will see her and by tomorrow we can wipe off any leftover blood. I put her in my lap and she settled down and napped a bit. She had no interest in affection from HIM.

Awww...
She will be sore for a few days, I would watch to see that she's eating/drinking since it's cold she needs energy. If it's cold, hopefully you can just rub the dried blood of her tomorrow without getting her too damp. If you do get her wet, dry her up with a hair dryer.

 

[centrarchid]

We have been feeding Rosie mash when it isn't zero degrees outside. Today I came home and my BF told me he trimmed her beak, and hit the quick We had already had the trim vs file conversation, and I was against trimming, but I guess his selective hearing was on at that moment... She seems ok, though kind of pissed off, as she should be. She bled on herself, and in the nesting box where he put her to rest. The bleeding is stopped (he put flour on it soon after it happened). There is some dried blood on her feathers that I tried to wipe off, unsuccessfully. Her sisters of course saw that and pecked at her. We are hoping when it's dark and they are all in the coop, no one will see her and by tomorrow we can wipe off any leftover blood. I put her in my lap and she settled down and napped a bit. She had no interest in affection from HIM.

I would have done some corrective trimming as well. Getting into quick with that particular job not problematic and likely not avoidable. What I like to do with such birds during healing which only lasts a few days is to feed with coarse particulate feed items.

 

[Clairenh]

She's doing well. We brought her in to clean dried blood off the feathers on her chest, then gave her a little blow dry. We then gave her some strawberries and yogurt, and out to the yard she went.

Before and after photo:

 

[sourland]

Selective hearing at it's finest. Well done, BF.