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newby worried about beaks

 
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feathered fran



Joined: 06 May 2008
Posts: 47
Location: cleveland
PostPosted: Tue May 06, 2008 9:39 pm    Post subject: newby worried about beaks Reply with quote
I bought three 17 week Goldie's on Monday, they are settling in nicely and appear to be happy and healthy, however I am a bit concerned about their beaks! the bottom part sticks out more than the top part (hope that makes sense!) I don't know if its because of their age or if it has been done to them or indeed if it is completely normal! it just don't look right to me. I am sorry to ask such a strange question but the place we got them from brought them out for us and we didn't get a chance to see where or how they were living. thanks Confused
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Kitsune



Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 1334
Location: Manchester
PostPosted: Tue May 06, 2008 9:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
it sounds like they may have been beak trimmed - is the top beak pointed or blunt?
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feathered fran



Joined: 06 May 2008
Posts: 47
Location: cleveland
PostPosted: Tue May 06, 2008 10:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
they look fairly pointed I think, just shorter on the top! they are eating and drinking ok though bless them.
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JustChickens



Joined: 24 Mar 2008
Posts: 869
Location: Sussex
PostPosted: Tue May 06, 2008 10:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Sounds like they have been beak trimmed, like Kitsune said Smile They will be fine, large scale egg farms often do it to reduce the damage done when the chucks have a squabble.
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Pekinout



Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 1035
Location: Cornwall
PostPosted: Tue May 06, 2008 11:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
If the top beak is pointed then they haven't been trimmed. Inbreeding causes overshot and undershot beaks, amongst other things.
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Kitsune



Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 1334
Location: Manchester
PostPosted: Wed May 07, 2008 8:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
can you post a picture, we'd have a better idea on the cause then
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sunnyside



Joined: 06 Oct 2005
Posts: 245
Location: Birmingham
PostPosted: Wed May 07, 2008 8:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
if they can eat and drink fine then it will not be a problem for them. if you were buying breeding stock then yes I'd reject funny beaks but for egg laying and pets it will make no odds.
if they do start to wear at angle that makes eating differcult the beak can be carefully filed (avoiding the live'quick-same as in our nails)to even it up to enable hen to eat properly but if they can eat fine at 17 weeks they will most likely never have issue.
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feathered fran



Joined: 06 May 2008
Posts: 47
Location: cleveland
PostPosted: Wed May 07, 2008 9:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks for all the reassurance, I will try to get a picture today after work and post it, I am sure I will have some more questions as we get used to our girls.

I think this forum is fantastic, I have already learned so much from browsing different topics.

thanks everyone
Fran
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EGirl



Joined: 01 Nov 2007
Posts: 1117
Location: Dublin, Ireland
PostPosted: Wed May 07, 2008 11:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
And welcome to the forum, Fran. Very Happy
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