Nacktschnecken omlet Cube

[jennym]

Hi,

 

We got our 3 POL ladies a couple of weeks ago. Being new at this we didn't notice right away, but Lucy the has a slightly damaged upper beak. At the moment she seems to be managing fine - she can eat her pellets and anything we throw on the ground. She can also peck corn straight off the cob without any problem.

 

I'm wondering a few things:

 

1. Was this 'trimmed'? Seems unlikely as all my ladies came from same flock, same place and the other two are fine.

2. Will this grow back? I have read a few posts about this but there seem to be differing opinions.

3. Should I do anything now, or watch for problems in future? I've seen some photos of lower beaks growing out a lot when the upper beak is too short - do I need to do anything about it?

 

Thanks for looking, all opinions welcome!

Jen

 

[MaryKate]

Hi

I am relatively new to all of this also, but I would say it is a trimmed beak. My two came from the same flock and Marleen's beak was trimmed (just as in your picture) whilst Clodagh's wasn't. I just assumed it was a case of Clodagh being a bit of a Houdini and managing to escape on the day (she is always finding escape routes from their FR area). I think the trimmed beak has made Marleen more choosy about food - she doesn't particularly like things that stick to her beak. She is also the more nervy of the two - having read about beak trimming, I can understand why. I have read that sometimes the upper beak will grow back, but so far this hasn't happened with Marleen's, but as so many chickens have trimmed beaks, I guess they must all manage. I hope you enjoy your chooks as much as I do - I wasn't sure I was doing the right thing getting them, but now love the pair of them. Lots of lovely eggs too!

[Sam]

Out of my 4, Kiev has a trimmed beak. Its because the supplier buys them in, so all of the goldlines had a trimmed beaks, whereas the place where they buy their other breeds from do not. I think it may have grown back slightly but is still visibly shorter than the other hens.

[majuka]

I know this is quite common in ex battery hens. A few of our girls have had the same and they have mostly grown back. As long as she is able to eat and drink properly I wouldn't worry about it. Vets are quite reluctant to trim them level unless they are causing problems with eating as there is a risk of the hen bleeding very severely if a blood vessel is damaged.

[surfer_chicken]

This isn't really a helpful comment, but I couldn't help but say how pretty she is, even with the trimmed beak

[fluffy chick]

As long as she is keeping her weight and is healthy I wouldn't worry

[jennym]

This isn't really a helpful comment, but I couldn't help but say how pretty she is, even with the trimmed beak

 

Maybe not helpful re: the beak, but nice to hear. Thanks - I think so too

 

As long as she is keeping her weight and is healthy I wouldn't worry

 

We've now got the the stage where I can pick her up pretty easily (wish I could say the same for the other two!). I'll try to pick her up every day so I'll notice any changes.

 

Thanks!

[mum-2-olly]

This isn't really a helpful comment, but I couldn't help but say how pretty she is, even with the trimmed beak

 

haha us chicken folk are all the same...i was just about to post something very similiar!!!

[majuka]

This isn't really a helpful comment, but I couldn't help but say how pretty she is, even with the trimmed beak

 

I thought exactly the same!

[cheekymonkey200]

Hi all-

 

One of my girls, Maude has a beak exactly like this. I assumed she was just wonky because Mildred, who we got at the same time from the same place is fine. I'm devastated to think she might have been trimmed! Poor Maudey

She's fine and it doesn't really affect her- apart from when she eats mashed potatoes and Mildred snaffles it off her beak before she's properly eaten it-

 

Would it be likely that one would have been trimmed and not the other? Do you think its worth asking the breeder I got her from? I dont want to swap her or anything, I still think she's gorgeous- I'd just like to know. As you say, she is definitely the more jumpy and less forthcoming of the pair.

 

H x

[lucyandlola]

One of my warrens had a bamaged beak that bleed and had split. When it had healed I used my emery board to file the sharp edges. She was ok with this and her beak is 100% better now. I think it was clipped after we picked her and the farmer put her in the carrier.

[Princess Leia]

We picked up our 2 birds from the Omlet shop on 28th May (with the Eglu Go) - from the OP's post it sounds like it was the same time, but doesn't mention where she came from. Our Rhode/Maran hybrid looks exactly the same as the picture, with the top part short and twisted to one side. If they came from the same source, is there a "defective" flock? The birds were given to us in a sealed box, so we didn't notice until we got home. That being said, she is eating and drinking well and looks perfectly healthy otherwise, so I'm assuming this isn't a problem?

 

Diane

[Jools]

No it's not a defective flock, it's a deliberate action

 

Some large scale breeders still beak trim hybrid chicks to prevent feather pecking problems as they mature. Any animal kept in un-natural close confinement is likely to develop behavioural problems and I suppose they don't know whether their birds are going to a free-range or caged home, so they beak trim them all.

 

It shouldn't cause any problems, unless it's been done too aggressively. Sometimes they slowly grow back, sometimes not. Just keep an eye on her and make sure she's able to eat well. if she has any difficulty then mash or wet mash rather than pellets will help her.

 

Two of my first ever bantams were beak trimmed and I thought they always looked like they were pouting!

[jennym]

from the OP's post it sounds like it was the same time, but doesn't mention where she came from.

 

I got mine from Widgit's Farm. We did have a chance to see the whole flock and hold our birds before we took them, I just didn't notice the beak as I'd never heard of beak trimming at that point. I suspect Sam (below) is right, and some of the birds they sell are bred by them and others are bought in.

 

Sounds like it's hard to avoid Anyway I'd never trade her in now as she's my favourite ( don't tell)

 

Jen