beak problems

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Carol Bracewell

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Oct 11, 2007, 6:05:53 PM10/11/07
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Anyone seen upper beak drying, cracking problems like this, leading to lower beak longer and hard to eat?
-Carol



blackbeak1.jpg
blackbeak2.jpg

punkpo...@yahoo.com

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Oct 12, 2007, 9:17:46 AM10/12/07
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Commercial chicken breeders actually trim beaks like this to prevent
pecking of fellow birds. It doesn't look too severe, but I don't know
what's causing it. Was it like this at birth or is it a result of a
possible injury (thinking like a small tear that eventualy flaked off
the rest)?

On Oct 11, 5:05 pm, Carol Bracewell <ca...@flying-pig-productions.com>
wrote:


> Anyone seen upper beak drying, cracking problems like this, leading
> to lower beak longer and hard to eat?
> -Carol
>

> blackbeak1.jpg
> 116KDownload
>
> blackbeak2.jpg
> 58KDownload

Carol Bracewell

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Oct 12, 2007, 10:34:29 AM10/12/07
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I thought the commercials at least trimmed the top and bottom off
together, so the birds could still eat. I'm not sure what started it,
but I first noticed a crack on the top, then a small spot broke off.
My concern is that the whole beak looks dry on the top and I'm afraid
it will crack more, further up. THe lower beak is growing fine and
looks like solid fingernail type material. Completely different from
the upper one. SHe has real trouble pecking items off the ground. I'm
assuming she can still eat the feed from the dish, but I have to
watch her weight and make sure she's getting enough.

Carol

punkpo...@yahoo.com

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Oct 15, 2007, 9:31:23 AM10/15/07
to Mad City Chicken Chat
The ones I saw, they just did the top. The more I thought about it I
remembered more about parrots suffering cracked beaks. I think it's a
nutritional thing (doesn't mean your diet isn't adequate, but that
this bird needs more or suffered some illness/ diahrrea and lost her
balance). Try googling that angle. I think they recommend more
minerals (grit).but they aalso softened the beak by washing it with
olive oil. If your hen appears unable to eat properly, a vet can
reduce the size of the lower beak by trimming (it can usually be filed
back like a fingernail, gently).
Amy

On Oct 12, 9:34 am, Carol Bracewell <ca...@flying-pig-productions.com>
wrote:

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