Chick beak length, normal growth or should I be concerned?

[CheepersPeepers]

Hello! I’m a new chicken owner and have five different types of chicks who are now 4.5 weeks old. They’re doing well, they eat a medicated chick start and grow and I have a dish of chicken grit. I’ve recently doubled the size of the brooder (made out of halves of an XL plastic dog crate) and put some rocks and a hickory branch perch in one half shown below. I’ve noticed that a couple of the faster growing chicks have their top part of their beak growing a bit long. I’ve read about trimming beaks but I’d rather not unless I have to. They’re eating and drinking well… can I hope that they’ll wear them down? Any other suggestions for more natural ways to help them do it themselves? Is this a normal thing during rapid growth? I intend to transition them to the coop around 6 weeks old. It mostly the buff Orpington and the silver laced Wyandotte… but they’re all getting a bit beaky… what are some thoughts from more experienced chicken peeps?

 

[nuthatched]

Looks normal to me. They can go outside to the coop unless it's snowing. ;]

 

[GoldenSlumbers]

I'm just starting out myself, but I've seen my chicks honing their beaks themselves on something hard like a rock or cinderblock.

 

[CheepersPeepers]

Looks normal to me. They can go outside to the coop unless it's snowing. ;]

Hahaa, thank you, good to know! The smaller cream legbar is slower on her feather development so I’m keeping them all inside a bit longer. We’re having a cold snap this week so we will be spending more time out there and starting to transition next week!

 

[nuthatched]

Hahaa, thank you, good to know! The smaller cream legbar is slower on her feather development so I’m keeping them all inside a bit longer. We’re having a cold snap this week so we will be spending more time out there and starting to transition next week!

They don't need to be fully feathered, they can snuggle unless it's going below freezing.

 

[FunClucks]

I put my 5 gallon horizontal nipple waterers up on cinderblocks - they elevate the water to a good height and provide a surface the birds can grind down their beaks on if they want to.

It's only an issue if it prevents them from getting enough food and water.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

You have been given good advice. They look normal to me and I second the cinder block out in the run. I had a couple paving stones I used for various things in the run and they often cleaned their beaks on them. As a bonus when you move the block every few months there will be yummy bugs under it for your chickens

 

[rosemarythyme]

Agreed on cinder blocks, bricks and rocks and anything else hard will do as well. I have multiples of each in my coop and run so you'll see birds honing their beaks on them.

 

[CheepersPeepers]

Thank you all for your responses!