Long Beak

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

PoultryDan wrote:

for that. I'll make sure the first time I do this to check it out with a torch first i_like1

If I do that I'll know I'm not going to hurt the chick or damage its beak.

you welcome

I had to file my Plymouth Rocks beak as she pecked the wire mesh on the pen (and she's got one mean peck) and she split her beak so then everything was getting caught in the crack.

The hardest part was keeping her head still so I could drag the emery board across her beak :lol:

But we got there in the end [smilie=a_goodjobson.gif]

I just used a woolworths brand one that comes in about a pack of ten

The rest have gone in the Chookie supplies medical kit, which is building up to be quite an arsenal now :lol:

cartee · **Joined:** Sat Oct 26, 2013 3:52 pm **Posts:** 1

What causes the beak to grow so long in a young chook?

ChickenPox · **Posted:** Sun Oct 27, 2013 4:21 pm

Its caused by high calcium in their feeds but only affects a very small %

PoultryDan · **Posted:** Wed Oct 30, 2013 10:07 pm

for all your replys

Thought I knew where the vessels were after using the torch. I was filing slowly and wasn't even close to finishing when I hit a blood vessel. It started to ooze slowly but was easy to control. When I left the chick unattended though it would aggravate it and it would start bleeding again [smilie=a_doh.gif]

so had to watch it like a hawk!

So there is still quite a bit of beak left and cant really take any more off without it bleeding or hurting the chick, it looks better though.

ChickenPox wrote:

Its caused by high calcium in their feeds but only affects a very small %

Thanks ChickenPox, do you know of anything you can do to reverse this or will it just work itself out?

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Maybe when it starts free ranging the beak will wear down. I know that cuttle fish is good for budgies and cockatiels to keep their beak in shape.

Over grown beaks can interfere with the chick's being able to eat. An avian vet who knows about chooks can also determine if the cause of the overgrown beak is due to a health problem or deficiency. If you don't have an avian vet in your area, try to find someone who can do it for you who has experience. An extra pair of hands is always handy!.

PoultryDan · **Posted:** Thu Oct 31, 2013 9:43 pm

PP

At the moment he's doing great, the shortening has helped and eats and drinks fine. As you said I hope free ranging him more will help, if it continues I could always take him to the breeder who could take a closer look.

Cordelia · **Posted:** Fri Nov 01, 2013 7:15 am

Petite Poulet wrote:

Maybe when it starts free ranging the beak will wear down. I know that cuttle fish is good for budgies and cockatiels to keep their beak in shape.

Over grown beaks can interfere with the chick's being able to eat. An avian vet who knows about chooks can also determine if the cause of the overgrown beak is due to a health problem or deficiency. If you don't have an avian vet in your area, try to find someone who can do it for you who has experience. An extra pair of hands is always handy!.

Yes once they start scratching and pecking around that tends to keep the beak short I find

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