What are these l brackets for

[AngieC]

Hello,

 

I became the proud owner of 3 sussex chickens last weekend. After getting over my initial anxiety that they were all to be eaten by foxes I was settling in and getting to know them.

 

Whilst feeding them some grain from hand I noticed that one chicken was particularly rough - it was only then I saw that her beak was split at the end. (Makes it looks like it is overgrown)

 

She appears in good spirits and it is not stopping her from eating - but as I am new to this I would like advice on what I should do.

* Watch and see how she goes

* Take her straight to the vet for a check up

* any other advice?

 

Has anybody else experienced this issue?

[loumabel]

I haven't experienced a split beak but have had a broken beak that snapped off right to the nostrils. I would pop her along to the vets as they can glue the beak and should prevent further damage. I am sure someone with more experience than me will be along soon with some more advice. Good luck

[AngieC]

Thanks for getting back to me. I will phone the vet today for advice.

[The Dogmother]

Depends on what it's like; if it's not too bad you can just mend it with superglue and then file down any rough bits with a metal nail file. If it needs to be trimmed then it;s best left to the vet as the quick is very far down the beak and it's easy to make it bleed (even vets can do this sometimes) so I'd leave it to their extra sharp clippers and silver nitrite pencil for any bleeding

[AngieC]

Just a final update. I called the vet and they gave the advice of glueing the beak or leaving her and the split would grow out. As she seemed so healthy otherwise I decided to leave her be. I am happy to say that her beak had now sorted itself out - it is still a little rough at the ned but all in order.