Trimming a Chicken Beak (Major Overbite!)

Welcome back to our channel, the Purpose Driven Homestead!
Chicken's beaks are just like fingernails... they continuously grow. Most chickens do a great job of "self-trimming" their beaks as they eat. To do this, chickens will frequently wipe their beak back and forth as they eat to essentially file them down. Their pecking usually takes care of the front.
Sometimes they don't follow this behavior and their beaks can become elongated. In this video we show you how to trim down a peak if it becomes a problem for the chicken to self solve.
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Items seen in video: PLEASE consider purchasing through our affiliate links. Amazon pays us a tiny percentage (and I mean really tiny) from their profit margin, so it’s a way you can help support our channel at no cost to you.
Items in Video:
Nail/Beak Covers - amzn.to/3nvR3zB
Nail trimmer and Brush kit - amzn.to/3NQsU1H
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#homestead #homesteading #chicken #chickens #backyardhomestead
@Purpose Driven Homestead ​

[@WindowGeek1]

Thanks for the detailed explanation. Our oldest chicken is 11 years and we had to separate her from the others last year. Her beak is hooked and we went searching KZbin to find you. Nice video. We subscribed.

[@purposedrivenhomestead]

That's really great to hear that this helped you so much! We've had to come back and trim our girl's beak a few more times as the split grows out. If you stay on top of it, then typically the hens will catch up on their beak maintenance themselves. Splits like ours had take a while to grow out but a little TLC goes a long way! Best of luck and thank you so much for subscribing! It helps us so much!

[@JosephHoward-qs9zu]

Thank you for this, we just fixed our babies beak.

[@purposedrivenhomestead]

That is so wonderful! I'm really glad this video helped you. It's a bit of a daunting task the first time you do it, but all in all... not too difficult. If you liked the video, please give it a like and check out some of our other videos. We'd love to have you subscribe to our channel!

[@thursdayverducci6704]

A GEL super glue works really well to fill in any gaps and cracks safely. It usually only takes one to three drops to build a nice little bridge and fill in most splits. Even though a gel is thicker and has less of a chance of running still make sure to let the first drop thoroughly dry (usually 10 to 45 seconds depending on the brand) before applying a second drop. Using a gel, going slow and allowing it to dry between drops eliminates or at least greatly reduces the risk of any glue running into your chicken's mouth. Super glue has the same active ingredient as nail glue. Super glue has been used by medics now for over a half a century.

[@purposedrivenhomestead]

Thank you for the comment! Yes... that's another great suggestion. We've found that the gel dries a LOT slower than the standard, so they often flip it off before it can dry. To your point, you have to size up the gap and decide which will work better! Thanks again!

[@ctuck620]

Thanks for the video! The cat claw covers are a great idea!

[@purposedrivenhomestead]

Thanks for the comment and for the great feedback! We're really glad you enjoyed it!

[@Jypsie415]

This is exactly what I was looking for, thank you! Our rooster has a hooked beak and it's getting pretty severe. No issues with feeding just yet... Not that we've noticed, anyway. But I'm sure it will soon.

[@purposedrivenhomestead]

Our pleasure! We're so glad it helped you out. It can be a little nerve wracking at first, but hopefully this gave you the confidence to get it done! Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE and check out some of our other videos!

[@besot1022]

Great information.

[@purposedrivenhomestead]

Thank you so much for the encouraging words! We'd love to have you subscribe for future videos if you haven't already! Thank you again and glad you found value in it!

[@glutenfreejm3]

Very helpful, thanks! We have a chicken at least as long your girl's was. We will try this soon.

[@purposedrivenhomestead]

Thank you for the kind words! We hope it helps you when you're trimming your hen's beak. It's easy to miss long beaks like this if you've got quite a few chickens in your flock. If you liked the video, please give it a "thumbs up" and also consider subscribing to our channel and check out some of our other homesteading videos. Good luck!

[@janabanana6526]

Spa day for this chicken, lol. Thank you for the upload. Very helpful 👍

[@purposedrivenhomestead]

Haha... It really was! I decided to not include the mud mask and hot stone therapy for the chicken's back in the video. LOL. Hey if you like our content, don't forget to like the video and consider subscribing!

[@janabanana6526]

Subscribed & liked as soon as I saw this video 😊👍

[@josephtipping6926]

Thanks just what I needed my hens beak has just started to split I just found it this morn . I will clip it today thanks.

[@purposedrivenhomestead]

Thanks for the comment! So glad you found the split early, it's a lot easier to fix that way. How did your clipping turn out? If you liked the video, please give it a thumbs up and consider subscribing to our channel!

[@homesteadinginthecity]

Thank you, I have two chicks with hooked beaks, was nervous about trimming, will do this today. Have a super weekend🐤

[@purposedrivenhomestead]

Our pleasure! How did it work out, any issues when you did the trimming this weekend? If you enjoyed the video, please consider subscribing. We have quite a few things coming out soon.

[@homesteadinginthecity]

@purposedrivenhomestead one of my chicks beaks bled a tiny bit even though the beak is still quite long over the bottom beak after trimming, I'm hoping, like nails, that the nerve will recede a bit over time, but in future I'll file it a little at a time. Had no problem with the 2nd chick.

[@homesteadinginthecity]

Subscribed😁

[@purposedrivenhomestead]

Sounds like it wasn't too bad... which we're glad to hear. They make a styptic powder for animals that can be used for stopping the bleeding on dog or cat nails that are clipped too short. It's similar to what men use when shaving if they nick themselves. It stops the bleeding pretty fast.

[@homesteadinginthecity]

@purposedrivenhomestead no it wasn't bad, thanks I'll look for that and keep on hand. Have a super week.

[@WildwoodTV]

Use the snazzy - she's worth it! 😊Trimmed my girl's scissor-beak the other day - once so carefully as usual but this time she bled - only a drip - ARGH! so dipped it in flour - love how you are so gentle with that lady - I'm sure she was grateful for that, now she can eat!

[@purposedrivenhomestead]

Oh no... I'm so sorry you nicked your girl! Another option in addition to flour would by a styptic powder like we mentioned during the video. It can stop the bleeding if it's a little more (hopefully not a lot more) than a drip. It's just nice to have it handy if you ever need it during a trim. Yes, our girl was really good about the whole process and she stayed surprisingly calm compared to what some other chickens might do. If you liked our video, please consider subscribing to our channel and we'd be so grateful if you shared our content on social media. We're excited about connecting with other like-minded people and are very grateful for any help connecting us with others.

[@WildwoodTV]

@@purposedrivenhomestead many thanks for replying, I already subbed 👍😊 just bought some styptic powder for the chicken first aid box too. I have rescues & silkies. Not sure if I should post my chook being trimmed, but we all have to learn. ATB from Shropshire UK 👍

[@mayhembeading3737]

Thank you for this video. We have a handicapped chicken (she was basically thrown at us) who can't go outside, and she is getting a bit long in the upper beak, and I've been scared to hurt her while trimming it. This video is super helpful. Also subscribed here. Lol.

[@mayhembeading3737]

I just wanted to say thank you again for this encouraging video. Just finished trimming Sable I-lean's beak, and she acts like she is a brand new chicken, and eating with gusto. Appreciate it.

[@purposedrivenhomestead]

We're so happy that this helped you! We had a few people share that this was a challenge for them and it was a little nerve wracking the first time we did it also... so we figured... why no share so that others can learn and get comfortable with it ahead of trimming their chicken's beak. Thank you for the subscription and for the kind words of encouragement! Anything else you'd like to see a video on... just reach out!

[@rafaellelafrance1428]

Thank you!

[@purposedrivenhomestead]

It's our pleasure! We hope the video helped you. If it did, please give it a thumbs up and also consider subscribing to our channel if you like our other content. Good luck trimming your chicken's beak!

[@rafaellelafrance1428]

@@purposedrivenhomestead I did already🙂

[@maryvalerio5662]

Thanks for the tutorial! I have a suggestion for something easier than a square of sandpaper - try an emery board (the things you use to file fingernails into shape). They are essentially sandpaper on a file. Thanks again - great tutorial.

[@purposedrivenhomestead]

It absolutely was on our list... but we had tons of sandpaper and no emery boards around our house... so we went with what we had! LOL. Thanks for the great suggestion!

[@douglasphillips24]

Have a Rhode island red with long hooked beak and hard to eat so definitely thanks for sharing knowledge. God bless.

[@purposedrivenhomestead]

Thanks for the comment! We're really happy to hear that we may have helped you with that hen. Just as an update, our hen from the video needed this several more times. She just didn't seem to get the process for wiping her beak to keep it pruned. Keep an eye on it because if they have the problem once, it's highly probable they will have it again. If you enjoyed the video, please consider subscribing to our channel. We've got a lot going on these days as we rehabilitate an old crop farm into a permaculture homestead and we'd love to have you along for the journey.

[@douglasphillips24]

@@purposedrivenhomestead looking forward to seeing new videos.👏

[@purposedrivenhomestead]

Awesome! Don't forget to turn on the notification bell for our channel to get notified when we drop new videos!

[@carrieunrein2060]

GREAT VIDEO..I have a rooster who has a hooked beak

[@purposedrivenhomestead]

Thank you so much for the great feedback on the video! We hope that the video helps you trim down his beak. It's pretty simple once you know how to do it! Please consider subscribing if you found value in the video and don't forget to give it a "thumbs up" as it really helps us!

[@luisarashirovideo]

She likes the sand paper hahaha

[@purposedrivenhomestead]

Not sure she liked it, but I'd say she tolerated it while we took care of fixing her beak. LOL

[@dianeespinoza8647]

Oh yeah that is long, she really hid that from you. She does look very thin and her feathers look ruffled so she is probably not so properly nourished, I am sure she is all fixed up by now. ❤

[@purposedrivenhomestead]

She wasn't overly thin, but we got her fixed up and the beak trimmed nicely. Don't forget to subscribe if you like our content!

[@lunaholahan3931]

Does that hurt to the chicken

[@purposedrivenhomestead]

Not at all.🙂 If you watch the video again, we talk about where to stop to make sure you don't hurt the chicken. The chicken's beak is like a fingernail and we tell you what's alive and what's not in the video.

[@annuitcptis3032]

I tried trimming my cross beaked chick the other day. Cut a tiny piece from her bottom beak and she bled so much it felt like I had slit her throat!!! 😳

[@purposedrivenhomestead]

Oh no!!! That's horrible but hopefully she's recovered by now. In the video we point out that the top beak is the easiest to trim because you can tell where the blood vessels are so you don't trim too close. The bottom beak is considerably trickier. We also recommend having some "blood stop" like a styptic powder that a guy would use if he cut himself shaving. They sell some specifically for animals like this one ---- amzn.to/3IC3s05

[@annuitcptis3032]

@@purposedrivenhomestead oh she was fine after a few minutes, but the bleeding was insane!!! I sanitized with peroxide, I didn't drench the beak, I just dabbed peroxide with a cotton on the actual injury so it wouldn't get in her mouth and tongue and burn it. I also dabbed some salt water and it did stop the bleeding. I've got to get better prepared for next time!! 🥵 Thanks for replying!! 💯💫😊👍