Brand New & Beakless!

[Raper Ranch Boss]

My husband gifted me with 5 baby chicks (and a coop) for Mother's Day (knowing I love all animals) so I am on a steep learning curve and thought this was a great resource. Thanks for all the info!

I have one little hen (I call her Reba) who has no top beak! I've been told it was a deformity, or it was clipped at a commercial hatchery, but I really don't know! She is the only one of the flock (purchased at Atwood's Farm & Ranch store where the employees had no knowledge) who is this way. I read other threads here about the beak problems and it appears that there's no need to worry as long as she is thriving. It appears she is... so I'm just keeping an eye on her, making sure she has deep food and hand-feeding daily.

Any advice is appreciated, and I would really like to know what breeds I have! I have been told 3 are dominickers but I do not know!

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC - thanks for joining us. It sure doesn’t look like beak clipping to me. I’d imagine she was born like that or suffered an injury at some point. As you rightly point out - if she is thriving, then all is well

Best wishes
Pork Pie

 

[redranger209]

Yours are barred rocks, not Dominiques. Wrong comb for Dominique.

 

[Kiki]

Welcome to BYC!
We are glad you joined our flock!

This video will help you learn how to navigate this site:

Coop Ideas:
Chicken Coops

BYC has an APP

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Just when I though I've seen it all. Poor thing.
Welcome to the site. I hope the best for it.

 

[lazy gardener]

Pics are not close enough for me to discern comb type. Pic #3 looks like rose comb, which would be Dom. But need close up.

 

[FrankieDoodle]

Welcome to BYC!!!

 

[drumstick diva]

You can post photos of your birds at "what breed or gender is this," and the good folks there will sort them out for you. BTW

 

[coach723]

Here's a good link for distinguishing barred rocks from dominiques, your picture isn't clear enough to see, but either way, nice birds:
https://animalsake.com/difference-between-barred-rock-dominique-chickens
As long as your beakless girl can eat and drink she should do just fine. I agree it looks more like an injury or deformity than a deliberate debeaking.
Using deeper dishes for food and water, and making feed into a mash by adding water can make it easier for them to manage.

 

[JedJackson]

My husband gifted me with 5 baby chicks (and a coop) for Mother's Day (knowing I love all animals) so I am on a steep learning curve and thought this was a great resource. Thanks for all the info!

I have one little hen (I call her Reba) who has no top beak! I've been told it was a deformity, or it was clipped at a commercial hatchery, but I really don't know! She is the only one of the flock (purchased at Atwood's Farm & Ranch store where the employees had no knowledge) who is this way. I read other threads here about the beak problems and it appears that there's no need to worry as long as she is thriving. It appears she is... so I'm just keeping an eye on her, making sure she has deep food and hand-feeding daily.

Any advice is appreciated, and I would really like to know what breeds I have! I have been told 3 are dominickers but I do not know!

Reba looks like a boy to me, actually, with the big comb & wattles, and thick legs. It seems to have gotten along so far without the top part of its beak, so I don't think you need to worry. But keep an eye on it.