Do beaks grow back? (and timings on feather growth)

[jessmorris]

Hello happy chookers,
my big rooster Constantin has broken off the tip of his upper bill. Will it grow back or is he for the pot? Sigh.

And just HOW long does it take primaries to grow back? I clipped my flock a year ago (I think) and they are still with stumpy feathers. Some have grown back, but not even half! Mind you, they didn't do a full moult last year so I guess that's the problem....I'm sure my d'uccles grew their feathers back quicker than this....and the game birds..sigh..

[chris]

Yes, I've had two broken beaks, one completely broken - and it's grown back. It took prettymuch a year though. I tried gluing it back on with superglue - ended up sticking my finger to her beak, her wriggling free and then ripping the top of her beak off. Decided to leave it - the nest day it was on the floor, she could still eat fine so I just let her get on with things.

As you've said, she's probably not moulted those feathers yet..

[marchogaeth]

I seem to remember (from granny's hens when I was a child) feeding water softened food to the ones that damaged their beaks and making it deep on the plates so they could get their beaks right into it but thta could just ahve been her keeping us occupied!

[Feral007]

Oh we were wondering about beaks too. Our batties had their beaks clipped as they do, and we wondered if they would ever grow long again.

As for feathers, Frank was really hard clipped on one wing (my dad always just took out the smaller feathers so they couldn't get anyheight) but Frank seems to have a full complement now and flying quite well when he needs to get after those inquisitive batts.

[jessmorris]

How long was it before Frank grew his feathers back Feral?

Oh we were wondering about beaks too. Our batties had their beaks clipped as they do, and we wondered if they would ever grow long again.

As for feathers, Frank was really hard clipped on one wing (my dad always just took out the smaller feathers so they couldn't get anyheight) but Frank seems to have a full complement now and flying quite well when he needs to get after those inquisitive batts.

[jessmorris]

..to continue on the theme - apparently if I can pull the feather stubs out a new feather will grow back in 6-8 weeks. A bit shorter than waiting for the next moult!

[RichmondHens]

Sounds about right. I pluck select feathers from my orpingtons bums to stop them getting claggy (they have a shelf of fluff that just seems to catch the poo) and they soon grow back again.

[Nicos]

RH.....tell us more please! ( perhaps a new thread???)...my Light Sussex get mega claggy bums!