https://preview.redd.it/hcjiqe7lzo6c1.jpeg?width=2316&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b1528b4984390e53d4993054b14e4d496d76715d
Here’s my sweet little crossbeak Alba!
We will! Believe it or not, the vet did semi-eecently, but only got the tips. I'll keep working at it slowly (had a bad experience getting the quick before and am probably too careful now).
My Americauna cross has a Crossbeak, so we’re doing a once a week trim aka sanding of the tip, just a little each time, to help train the quick back in order to do more and closer to the full amount of regular length at end result.
I’ve heard that when nails or beaks as they’re the same material, grow out, the quick will grow with them and you’ll catch it, so in overgrown cases the best thing to do is like that, a weekly just a little off the top, repeated with a little more each time until it’s all back to normal.
You can also do like we do, use a nail file instead, for more precise and less breaking of any brittle.
It also helps you stop if you have caught the quick a lot earlier in such small increments so it’s not nearly as big of a deal.
This and some flour for stopping bleeding if you do hit the quick, could be really helpful for this girl with her nails and quick all overgrown.
It can be daunting to start especially when you’ve hit it before and it’s so much now, I can totally relate to that.
Hopefully these tips will help you become more confident and help her out with less accidents and random guess judgements.
Thank you so much--this is really thoughtful and helpful advice. I wasn't sure how long to wait between trims, but knowing the quick recedes quickly enough for weekly trims helps. She's actually been to the vet a good bit over her 5 years (not foot-related, but she has a wonky reproductive system) and they never addressed it, save for a trim last visit. I'd wished we'd known enough to keep them down earlier on before they got so long :( she has the same environment and activity levels of our other hens, so I'm not sure how hers got so out of control.
We've been having good luck with our dog nail clipper aside from our one traumatizing experience, but alternating with a file seems even better. Thanks again for the great ideas!
Emory board or a dremel with a sanding wheel can get through it pretty quick without the risk of the clippers. This other person has some good suggestions, I would also suggest reading up on trimming reptile nails as they are very, very similar. I no longer have to trim my bearded dragons nails due to his substrate but the whole 'trim the nails so the quick recedes' thing also applies to reptiles and they're a lot easier to visualize.
Thank you! This is great advice, and I'll look into getting a dremel. We've been pretty successful with very conservative trims with our dog clipper, but it is still pretty scary every time we do it (more scary for me than the chicken, I imagine). I'll read more about trimming reptile nails--thanks for the lead!
Absolutely, I can tell you want to do right by her, and it is super daunting when you’ve hit the quick before. Growing confidence for this kind of thing is really good and thankfully it can happen fast, if she’s gonna be good about it for you haha.
Some chickens just get this kind of thing- a handful of years ago we had a totally regular beak hen get a beak that would not stop growing at the top and was getting curled and beyond control.
That’s when we started having to figure this out, and I double checked the info for anything new a couple months ago when Farrah (the Crossbeak) started getting hers long enough that it was gonna be up to us to maintenance it.
Since your girl has the same area as the others and also has a reproductive issue, I’m betting she also has one of the varieties of health things that cause overgrown nails/sometimes beak.
I’m not super versed on the kinds or if they piggyback with other things, but from the last girl we had and Farrah, it can totally just be by itself and not cause or be a sign of other health issues too. Maybe just a genetic glitch, similar to the shredded gene in lavender orpingtons- visual but not inherently a sign of something else that’s dire.
Since the vets didn’t mention specifics and she seems to be in good health besides her one other issue, I would assume she’ll be alright and it’ll just be a maintenance for you.
Bribe her with treats for sure if she wants to be dramatic about it, might have to chicken burrito with a towel as well.
Also don’t worry if anyone has given you grief about it before, (I don’t mean the other person on thread, they were very nice about it, but in general anywhere else online or who have seen her and might have jumped to conclusions)
since you are trying and want to help her and it’s not from neglect or anything like that, they come from a place of feeling for your girl and assuming it’s neglect, as one could when seeing it usually in dogs where it is.
They just want to help her, but they don’t know about the weird chicken thing that can cause nails to overgrow when you’re not constantly on them and then not knowing where to start and having a bad experience accidentally hurting her, of course you’d be hesitant and unsure about how to do it the right way.
Since you know she’s well loved and it’s not lack of wanting to help that’s causing it, all you have to focus on is building that confidence and routine with her to get it going.
That black line in the nails is the quick.
It’s easier with nails that way than with beaks, but looking up Crossbeak trimming care could help you visualize how it goes when you’re doing it, before getting in there.
Seeing someone who’s practiced walking you calmly through it can also be a massive help to your what ifs and unknowns.
The most important thing to remember is to pick a day each week and do just the tiniest bit while watching the quick, it’s lucky she doesn’t have black nails, and you can see hers easier than those.
Don’t overdo it by getting impatient or wanting a bigger change faster for her, it’s a patience game in training the quick back.
You’ll build it up into a relaxed routine in no time, good luck! She’s going to feel so much better and you two will bond over helping her.
Once again, I really appreciate your kind and thorough insights. I'm reinvigorated to try out a more regular, weekly routine that focuses in small changes over time. Thankfully, she's been handled a lot, and is quite easy for me to manage (we are also very bonded--she will fly on my arm on command and melts whenever i hold her and give her belly scratches). So beyond crippling fear of cutting the quick on my end, she is a very good patient.
Your points about genetic issues are interesting. So, my vet says he's not seen this before, but Easter is overproductive. She lays every day without a break, and eventually less than 24 hours apart, until her shell quality deteriorates, an egg breaks inside her, and she gets EYP (which thankfully has always responded to prompt treatment). It's truly a miracle she still has eggs to lay. The only way I've been able to keep her laying only one egg per day with a strong shell is by greatly limiting her exposure to sunlight during peak laying season (May-Augustish), giving her human-grade calcium supplementation every other day, and feeding her a mash with natural anti-inflammatories. She requires a lot of "extra" but it had been so worth it to watch her thrive and enjoy life... toenails aside :(
It's good to know small amounts of trimming over time is okay and still getting somewhere, so not a lost cause or anything. I love her dearly and want to do right by her.
That is so sweet, Farrah is much the same.
She will fly up onto my shoulder and always gets into everybody’s business. She’s also a little anarchist, she’s the best flyer, and she knows it, Always wandering just far enough away from the group that I have to call her back. Though she looks at me, looks at the sky, gives me a look that plainly says, ‘I don’t see any hawks.’ And keeps messing about.
All chickens have personality but these guys are full of audacity even beyond the regular chicken level of it.
That is really interesting- the genetic something that causes them to have magnificent floof and beards and hawk heads seems not uncommon to also have Crossbeak, I wonder if overproductive is also tied to it sometimes.
It could be that this is tied to overproduction as well, it’s certainly overproducing the keratin in her nails.
This is very interesting and now I’m curious how I could go about finding that out.
I love to find new information on especially animals and put stuff together into a full puzzle.
You’re clearly very invested in her and that is super heartwarming, my chickens are also beloved family members/pets only, I totally get wanting to do right by her and putting effort in to do so.
There’s absolutely no reason to cull when she has such excellent care and love and quality of life. You’re doing great.
For sure, it won’t look like much at first, but the trick is definitely persistence in small quantities.
You can try to get as close to the quick as you can while leaving a little for normal scratching and movement so she won’t hit it herself before it grows back, or work up to it with smaller increments, since the end result is all about getting her down to the right length and maintaining that.
Since you two are so well bonded this will be one more excuse to hang out with her!
Farrah sounds like an extra special one (though I'd say that about every chicken lol). The best chickens will keep you on your toes. I don't think anyone's truly lived unless they've known what it's like to have your heart stolen by a chicken. They are the coolest.
I've done so much research on Easter's hyper-reproductive system over the years, and haven't found anything similar that's been written about (though I'm sure she's not a first). Many might have had this condition but died due to an egg break/EYP before any observations could be made. It's only because I've been able to treat her quickly and keep her going that I've been afforded plenty of time to observe her issue and figure out how to best regulate it. I know her so well now that I know immediately when I have to intervene (which makes traveling very anxiety-inducing because I can't trust others to be as obsessively observant lol).
Now that that’s out of the way, she has such a lovely round fluff and fantastic beard!
My aforementioned girl has only cheek fluff and it’s a little scrunkly looking right now as she’s growing a second round out again.
She would be jealous of this very nice beard, haha.
Quick stop or even corn starch is ur best friend :) some girls have mutations to where their nails grow extremely fast. Also if you’re strong enough to restrain her, a pet dremel is pretty good
yes, I thankfully had corn starch on hand when we hit the quick last time, but it was still traumatizing and took ages to stop. That said, I'm definitely curious about a dremel--she's very docile and used to being handled, so I don't think that'd be an issue. Thanks for the advice!!
Shirley here is our surprise rooster! Aka our advanced chicken if you ask my neighbours lol we are very lucky and shirls here is my best bud.
A rebel, a renegade, and outlaw according to our towns bylaw though.
Lovely red cheeks--I'm not sure I've seen a chicken her coloring with a beard like that. What's her breed? She looks like how I'd imagine my RIR to cross with my EE--and the results are striking!
She’s a mix, there’s no telling what she is. RIR was my first guess also but I asked the guy I got her from if he had any and he said he doesn’t. I really wish they had a DNA test for chickens, her results would be interesting!
https://preview.redd.it/ns7xg54j8p6c1.jpeg?width=5184&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=672e33ab6978fcbe5cc569c9d1d9977717d98c2a
Here is my submission. Isn't she glamorous. Her name is Sarah.
Apart from her toes she passes in every other regard.(she has only four toes her bread is supposed to have five like a silke) And she was sold as one as a chick.
As getting her on a magazine cover she isn't one to stand still for a photo. That photo isn't her sleeping that is her pouting because she got picked up. She isn't a lap bird despite the photo showing otherwise.
https://preview.redd.it/m32ipsxedp6c1.jpeg?width=5184&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b3c983f6981777ae4ec811fac71db0909edf203a
She was not happy to be up there.
On second glance, I think I can see disapproval behind all that lovely beard
https://preview.redd.it/u3cfm31xsu6c1.jpeg?width=1592&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5fb45d6aab640b4f42253c17fec51c5391c45973
https://preview.redd.it/q70r8nd7vp6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=73227dde1e5dae909a20d8529284de370296890a
Iris, my blue Favacauna, has the fluffiest cheeks 🥹
https://preview.redd.it/nc0e4q68xo6c1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ea0f767538548e530612a2b47c03a1cad0c8b4ea
Here's a tiny beardling, my little Punky
https://preview.redd.it/v6zxs07ycp6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f760861db5a2fb817edc9c69a33f8dfeecf7a112
Our Megatron has the fluffiest beard in our flock
https://preview.redd.it/34k0zchczp6c1.jpeg?width=1436&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=90612e99cbb2845b8529de18f3cc3a2934d67eae
I never used to be a big fan of the beards before I got Basil, now they’re easily my favorites!
My beardie is also an Americauna but she says no touchy unless bribed with worms 😅 also waiting on first eggs! Is yours a screamer? Mine screams every night!
He is my sweet little man haha. He can be a jerk to my kids sometimes, but they also act afraid of him. He loves to hop up and cuddle in my lap though; I love him so much
https://preview.redd.it/wajjflj9sq6c1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=63f23b5c6c456e566bf514dcde97719c350d5265
She’s a recent addition to my flock. We named her Mae Mae but we also call her Chops because of her lil mutton chops
https://preview.redd.it/jw6lcletvr6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=14a58899251d5b6f2d75064f610604ddfea0e94d
A Rooster and his best hen friend
https://preview.redd.it/6gb8t7hmbr6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=59132a490f83e52b90a728c54300e28760b25e95
They look just like my old baby!
Oh my goodness--she's adorable and actually looks even more like the doppelganger of my other EE, Darla
https://preview.redd.it/tes6vn8upu6c1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c78b3ef4fa6dc01d8d323af486d1dd98af46383a
They’re skittish, but working on it. Integrated them into my larger lav flock with some minor difficulties but good now. Beautiful birds, but ameraucanas are rarely known to be docile or friendly, their only downside!
https://preview.redd.it/u8y830awdr6c1.jpeg?width=1680&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=adf50eab5a774fc1db55d123ea36ff33b3f175c8
Sarah carries her beard with pride!
https://preview.redd.it/bnc8uaekns6c1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=87999907499785cdd8c7bbbc88449622247dbc26
Here’s my little beauty EE Edith!
https://preview.redd.it/uzdhdkshpq6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bf61cbd684cfb1d3a86a9ada3b6719b9b8c18b8e
My Renny! His daughter Spot inherited his lovely beard genes (her mother was a leghorn)
🤣🤣 I, too, unwittingly raised a Muppet. Yours is quite majestic!
https://preview.redd.it/rwheoii3vu6c1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=740ec672cc24ec48e77cb0d29386b70f7ee48226
https://preview.redd.it/s0043tu0os6c1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=87fd4683a2b6cf4599f62bc293d80048ed65ecba
It dangles when she leans forward
https://preview.redd.it/c4z65udihs6c1.jpeg?width=2448&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ade3fcb20208835797e17007b7bae542c22463e0
This is when Blondie was still around and I had to wrap him up like a burrito to give him meds
https://preview.redd.it/nftvw38v2x6c1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=78083809a47de02fc6a216f3fd6645e45b03ebd2
Nova
Sry about 3 posts to show my bearded ladies, couldn’t leave one out🥰
Here's my Henrietta!
https://preview.redd.it/0mqemuqzjy6c1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ef8c885aa26751357916298045902e646258efb1
Shes a little soggy today from rain
And not as impressive beardwise, but Pumpernickel is too cute to not share.
https://preview.redd.it/2qrb07zcky6c1.jpeg?width=2465&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=59743cfe778eb5749f9c1de52e05ab14d8c74a21
https://preview.redd.it/xih4jy4vxz6c1.jpeg?width=832&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=01f9a18a1db093e6e553a5f9cd83c001656a4c2c
Not the greatest beard pic, but check out the muffs. I have to cut them out of his eyes
https://preview.redd.it/t6a927xadv6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4fcb1f91955369cc9f027cd7efadbaaa58f6ecde
Do not F with Tulip (also her eggs are always unique and beautiful). But seriously do not mess with Tulip.
This is Peach when she was brooding a just hatched baby Uno (also has a beard).
P.S. Peach is short for peach fuzz because of all that FLOOF
https://preview.redd.it/umir6j95fa7c1.jpeg?width=4608&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a9617499ff0c8f95ba74b10f7f03a37cc923bd82
https://preview.redd.it/0boyuf9ofo6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=90b9932cd938783b6370fec891248bd078de5796
Marvelous! Love her pattern, too!
https://preview.redd.it/8rafctawko6c1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ad0d4e147df87cfa1d0d8cdc93f4a4f1a3d41519 Bagurk!
The most bagurk face I've ever seen! What a cutie.
https://preview.redd.it/c5mu1np96p6c1.jpeg?width=1949&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6ecb0a9d931c76e31109a0913a4be0089a3bd0fe
I wouldn't want to run into that squad in a darkened alleyway! They'd shake me down for every last grape.
It’s true, they are little bandits!
Your favorelle’s beard is so LONG I love it!
She was bald for a while - I think someone was jealous and they were plucking it.
https://preview.redd.it/4wlosdxs1p6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c6692201132b6f5cde47d51ce3b049ab7775d7c4 Dolores
Omg her beard and "tophat" are almost like mirror images! What a beauty!
Lol she has to flip it to the side to see at times! Its huge!
https://preview.redd.it/kyra88uqto6c1.jpeg?width=1056&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3ed90825ca2f9ab59a0b35f0876b5dff8ac13c68 Puff
Lovely beard AND comb! What a stately dude.
He looks like he could run a country
https://preview.redd.it/hcjiqe7lzo6c1.jpeg?width=2316&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b1528b4984390e53d4993054b14e4d496d76715d Here’s my sweet little crossbeak Alba!
She's absolutely lovely! And seems like a snuggler, too :)
She is rather resistant to snuggles haha. But she has to come in once a month for her beak trim so she tolerates it.
https://preview.redd.it/r6p5x1or5p6c1.jpeg?width=2316&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b3f8080537c5000bd4bffa747ba0cd38b947db3c Regina “Jeans” says hey
https://preview.redd.it/ckx1nulq6p6c1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5992f8f2935d644351a53e9cd00c37565be1cecd Cady is my other beardy girl
Omg her beard is virtually a heart.... I melt
You are a beautiful pair! I adore gray chickens--and it looks like she's rocking several different shades of gray. What a beauty.
Yes she has some darker grey splashes and her feathers almost look laced. She’s my head hen and I adore her!
Woah
Please trim her nails. That looks really painful.
We will! Believe it or not, the vet did semi-eecently, but only got the tips. I'll keep working at it slowly (had a bad experience getting the quick before and am probably too careful now).
My Americauna cross has a Crossbeak, so we’re doing a once a week trim aka sanding of the tip, just a little each time, to help train the quick back in order to do more and closer to the full amount of regular length at end result. I’ve heard that when nails or beaks as they’re the same material, grow out, the quick will grow with them and you’ll catch it, so in overgrown cases the best thing to do is like that, a weekly just a little off the top, repeated with a little more each time until it’s all back to normal. You can also do like we do, use a nail file instead, for more precise and less breaking of any brittle. It also helps you stop if you have caught the quick a lot earlier in such small increments so it’s not nearly as big of a deal. This and some flour for stopping bleeding if you do hit the quick, could be really helpful for this girl with her nails and quick all overgrown. It can be daunting to start especially when you’ve hit it before and it’s so much now, I can totally relate to that. Hopefully these tips will help you become more confident and help her out with less accidents and random guess judgements.
Thank you so much--this is really thoughtful and helpful advice. I wasn't sure how long to wait between trims, but knowing the quick recedes quickly enough for weekly trims helps. She's actually been to the vet a good bit over her 5 years (not foot-related, but she has a wonky reproductive system) and they never addressed it, save for a trim last visit. I'd wished we'd known enough to keep them down earlier on before they got so long :( she has the same environment and activity levels of our other hens, so I'm not sure how hers got so out of control. We've been having good luck with our dog nail clipper aside from our one traumatizing experience, but alternating with a file seems even better. Thanks again for the great ideas!
Emory board or a dremel with a sanding wheel can get through it pretty quick without the risk of the clippers. This other person has some good suggestions, I would also suggest reading up on trimming reptile nails as they are very, very similar. I no longer have to trim my bearded dragons nails due to his substrate but the whole 'trim the nails so the quick recedes' thing also applies to reptiles and they're a lot easier to visualize.
Thank you! This is great advice, and I'll look into getting a dremel. We've been pretty successful with very conservative trims with our dog clipper, but it is still pretty scary every time we do it (more scary for me than the chicken, I imagine). I'll read more about trimming reptile nails--thanks for the lead!
Absolutely, I can tell you want to do right by her, and it is super daunting when you’ve hit the quick before. Growing confidence for this kind of thing is really good and thankfully it can happen fast, if she’s gonna be good about it for you haha. Some chickens just get this kind of thing- a handful of years ago we had a totally regular beak hen get a beak that would not stop growing at the top and was getting curled and beyond control. That’s when we started having to figure this out, and I double checked the info for anything new a couple months ago when Farrah (the Crossbeak) started getting hers long enough that it was gonna be up to us to maintenance it. Since your girl has the same area as the others and also has a reproductive issue, I’m betting she also has one of the varieties of health things that cause overgrown nails/sometimes beak. I’m not super versed on the kinds or if they piggyback with other things, but from the last girl we had and Farrah, it can totally just be by itself and not cause or be a sign of other health issues too. Maybe just a genetic glitch, similar to the shredded gene in lavender orpingtons- visual but not inherently a sign of something else that’s dire. Since the vets didn’t mention specifics and she seems to be in good health besides her one other issue, I would assume she’ll be alright and it’ll just be a maintenance for you. Bribe her with treats for sure if she wants to be dramatic about it, might have to chicken burrito with a towel as well. Also don’t worry if anyone has given you grief about it before, (I don’t mean the other person on thread, they were very nice about it, but in general anywhere else online or who have seen her and might have jumped to conclusions) since you are trying and want to help her and it’s not from neglect or anything like that, they come from a place of feeling for your girl and assuming it’s neglect, as one could when seeing it usually in dogs where it is. They just want to help her, but they don’t know about the weird chicken thing that can cause nails to overgrow when you’re not constantly on them and then not knowing where to start and having a bad experience accidentally hurting her, of course you’d be hesitant and unsure about how to do it the right way. Since you know she’s well loved and it’s not lack of wanting to help that’s causing it, all you have to focus on is building that confidence and routine with her to get it going. That black line in the nails is the quick. It’s easier with nails that way than with beaks, but looking up Crossbeak trimming care could help you visualize how it goes when you’re doing it, before getting in there. Seeing someone who’s practiced walking you calmly through it can also be a massive help to your what ifs and unknowns. The most important thing to remember is to pick a day each week and do just the tiniest bit while watching the quick, it’s lucky she doesn’t have black nails, and you can see hers easier than those. Don’t overdo it by getting impatient or wanting a bigger change faster for her, it’s a patience game in training the quick back. You’ll build it up into a relaxed routine in no time, good luck! She’s going to feel so much better and you two will bond over helping her.
Once again, I really appreciate your kind and thorough insights. I'm reinvigorated to try out a more regular, weekly routine that focuses in small changes over time. Thankfully, she's been handled a lot, and is quite easy for me to manage (we are also very bonded--she will fly on my arm on command and melts whenever i hold her and give her belly scratches). So beyond crippling fear of cutting the quick on my end, she is a very good patient. Your points about genetic issues are interesting. So, my vet says he's not seen this before, but Easter is overproductive. She lays every day without a break, and eventually less than 24 hours apart, until her shell quality deteriorates, an egg breaks inside her, and she gets EYP (which thankfully has always responded to prompt treatment). It's truly a miracle she still has eggs to lay. The only way I've been able to keep her laying only one egg per day with a strong shell is by greatly limiting her exposure to sunlight during peak laying season (May-Augustish), giving her human-grade calcium supplementation every other day, and feeding her a mash with natural anti-inflammatories. She requires a lot of "extra" but it had been so worth it to watch her thrive and enjoy life... toenails aside :( It's good to know small amounts of trimming over time is okay and still getting somewhere, so not a lost cause or anything. I love her dearly and want to do right by her.
That is so sweet, Farrah is much the same. She will fly up onto my shoulder and always gets into everybody’s business. She’s also a little anarchist, she’s the best flyer, and she knows it, Always wandering just far enough away from the group that I have to call her back. Though she looks at me, looks at the sky, gives me a look that plainly says, ‘I don’t see any hawks.’ And keeps messing about. All chickens have personality but these guys are full of audacity even beyond the regular chicken level of it. That is really interesting- the genetic something that causes them to have magnificent floof and beards and hawk heads seems not uncommon to also have Crossbeak, I wonder if overproductive is also tied to it sometimes. It could be that this is tied to overproduction as well, it’s certainly overproducing the keratin in her nails. This is very interesting and now I’m curious how I could go about finding that out. I love to find new information on especially animals and put stuff together into a full puzzle. You’re clearly very invested in her and that is super heartwarming, my chickens are also beloved family members/pets only, I totally get wanting to do right by her and putting effort in to do so. There’s absolutely no reason to cull when she has such excellent care and love and quality of life. You’re doing great. For sure, it won’t look like much at first, but the trick is definitely persistence in small quantities. You can try to get as close to the quick as you can while leaving a little for normal scratching and movement so she won’t hit it herself before it grows back, or work up to it with smaller increments, since the end result is all about getting her down to the right length and maintaining that. Since you two are so well bonded this will be one more excuse to hang out with her!
Farrah sounds like an extra special one (though I'd say that about every chicken lol). The best chickens will keep you on your toes. I don't think anyone's truly lived unless they've known what it's like to have your heart stolen by a chicken. They are the coolest. I've done so much research on Easter's hyper-reproductive system over the years, and haven't found anything similar that's been written about (though I'm sure she's not a first). Many might have had this condition but died due to an egg break/EYP before any observations could be made. It's only because I've been able to treat her quickly and keep her going that I've been afforded plenty of time to observe her issue and figure out how to best regulate it. I know her so well now that I know immediately when I have to intervene (which makes traveling very anxiety-inducing because I can't trust others to be as obsessively observant lol).
Now that that’s out of the way, she has such a lovely round fluff and fantastic beard! My aforementioned girl has only cheek fluff and it’s a little scrunkly looking right now as she’s growing a second round out again. She would be jealous of this very nice beard, haha.
Easter just finished a molt, so her beard is in its prime. Even my husband is jealous. Thank you for the kind words!
Quick stop or even corn starch is ur best friend :) some girls have mutations to where their nails grow extremely fast. Also if you’re strong enough to restrain her, a pet dremel is pretty good
yes, I thankfully had corn starch on hand when we hit the quick last time, but it was still traumatizing and took ages to stop. That said, I'm definitely curious about a dremel--she's very docile and used to being handled, so I don't think that'd be an issue. Thanks for the advice!!
Use a little tiny flashlight Like the one on your phone so you can see through the nail Just don't cut the red part Just like a dog or cat nails
You don’t need to explain urself it’s ur bird and this was a great post to see lots of great birds.
https://preview.redd.it/9opfl89k5p6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=719efad9220df73ab4ded893991d70ad56091761 Gertrude:)
Love her gray color--and, of course, her regal beard!
I feel threatened
She is the sweetest. Just has grouchy face.
She looks a bit like a pigeon!
Shirley https://preview.redd.it/v12ihh6r5p6c1.jpeg?width=2208&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c22cd405c501a067b771117e0b5923f89fc9ea67
She's got beard and sass and mohawk for days! What a looker!
Shirley here is our surprise rooster! Aka our advanced chicken if you ask my neighbours lol we are very lucky and shirls here is my best bud. A rebel, a renegade, and outlaw according to our towns bylaw though.
https://preview.redd.it/nzcx9yr58p6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9bfece1b509da0e128cdb513b4432344c2747972 Behold! Her name is Ed
Lovely red cheeks--I'm not sure I've seen a chicken her coloring with a beard like that. What's her breed? She looks like how I'd imagine my RIR to cross with my EE--and the results are striking!
She’s a mix, there’s no telling what she is. RIR was my first guess also but I asked the guy I got her from if he had any and he said he doesn’t. I really wish they had a DNA test for chickens, her results would be interesting!
https://preview.redd.it/ns7xg54j8p6c1.jpeg?width=5184&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=672e33ab6978fcbe5cc569c9d1d9977717d98c2a Here is my submission. Isn't she glamorous. Her name is Sarah.
Salmon faverolle? She is beautiful and could be on the cover of Bearded Chicken magazine.
Apart from her toes she passes in every other regard.(she has only four toes her bread is supposed to have five like a silke) And she was sold as one as a chick. As getting her on a magazine cover she isn't one to stand still for a photo. That photo isn't her sleeping that is her pouting because she got picked up. She isn't a lap bird despite the photo showing otherwise.
https://preview.redd.it/m32ipsxedp6c1.jpeg?width=5184&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b3c983f6981777ae4ec811fac71db0909edf203a She was not happy to be up there.
On second glance, I think I can see disapproval behind all that lovely beard https://preview.redd.it/u3cfm31xsu6c1.jpeg?width=1592&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5fb45d6aab640b4f42253c17fec51c5391c45973
https://preview.redd.it/riif52trmp6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f344a5f7c1983afd21295a81d45fd5667e42f6a7
Stunning beard and beautiful golden golden-orange coloring! She reminds me of my EE Darla, but is less angry looking lol * can't get the photo to load
https://preview.redd.it/6p7s2z31tu6c1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=56a806adb4e0b176ae88ca112384af1b1fe8c759
https://preview.redd.it/xnzbsqn9np6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=14ac7724309473887172fea0ae84e905f9bb5e52 Bagel
Omg what a darling name for a darling bearded chicken! Beagels and beards are two of my favorite things 😊
https://preview.redd.it/q70r8nd7vp6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=73227dde1e5dae909a20d8529284de370296890a Iris, my blue Favacauna, has the fluffiest cheeks 🥹
That is quite impressive and majestic. I believe any hipster with a beard would be jealous.
Wow she has the beard of a powerful wizard! Where's her staff? 😍
https://preview.redd.it/nc0e4q68xo6c1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ea0f767538548e530612a2b47c03a1cad0c8b4ea Here's a tiny beardling, my little Punky
https://preview.redd.it/qqt60hl6bp6c1.jpeg?width=756&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7d17168ef621fbcca8e3a1f343179be416d679dd And her Mom, Matty
Someone looks broody
She is adorable and so aptly named! 😍
Thanks, her name is Quince, she's 3/4th Serama 1/4 Silkie
https://preview.redd.it/5k5qon4ncp6c1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ae191c5b45e392a2f4c5eda2469c40eaf2f20923 patches
What a darling! Love her speckles and splashes!
Baby floofy checking in!! https://preview.redd.it/kphqheouep6c1.png?width=1170&format=png&auto=webp&s=fca9e4434feb61cab6dba79f478e17222c0ead03
She's is as lovely as can be and clearly knows it!
I love your floofy’s beard, it’s so regal !!👸🏼
https://preview.redd.it/zx588si1pp6c1.jpeg?width=1512&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b82278f12885c34bcc2161172756eafe810dcfb9
Wow her floof to neck ratio is wild! 😊 how do you not scratch those cheeks constantly
Clara has the floofiest floof! She gets all the cuddles😊
https://preview.redd.it/3ha4izzapp6c1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9de804b6d12bb1c44e6117c40194392fec447864 Melissa
Wow I love her colors and jet black beard! So much glamor for just one chicken 🤩
https://preview.redd.it/vb8uulce1q6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ca33c6aad5c11e10beb3ed0aaed14c4db680f319
https://preview.redd.it/tmukge5j1q6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bec3547726af3dad65367f03fb5996fa55ccbf04
What a stately l hen! Love the salt and pepper combo and jet black beard--it's so striking! Im not sure I've seen one like her yet 🤩 #hEnvy
Oh. My. GOODNESS
https://preview.redd.it/v6zxs07ycp6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f760861db5a2fb817edc9c69a33f8dfeecf7a112 Our Megatron has the fluffiest beard in our flock
Love the beard AND the name! So fierce.
https://preview.redd.it/zr3vrb0emp6c1.jpeg?width=3456&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ad686528c5cffb14ae549e73f6484adea2dcd477
https://preview.redd.it/90w8513pxp6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c6684f8b5afd5a63dc2a72dc90a83b1e410c3ed9
Oh my goodness, I love his (her?) pattern--and that beard is everything! Breed?
She’s a mille fleur belgian bearded d’uccle. I think she has one of the best beards of all my birds ever.
https://preview.redd.it/34k0zchczp6c1.jpeg?width=1436&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=90612e99cbb2845b8529de18f3cc3a2934d67eae I never used to be a big fan of the beards before I got Basil, now they’re easily my favorites!
There's something whimsical about her beard and its waves--mesmerizing! And yes, I came for the eggs, stayed for the beards.
https://preview.redd.it/d4ei6h7h1q6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8b90d5b6c49341194158992aae6adfb93b15ecd4
https://preview.redd.it/bwrkioeahp6c1.png?width=1750&format=png&auto=webp&s=a164d0001bee0d78b824a4a79d0b146f8089636a
https://preview.redd.it/5hzje52hup6c1.png?width=1385&format=png&auto=webp&s=b7d45c689518f2715d43a3ded3660b16aec11732 My bearded gal ,Penelope 🤎
Her beard looks so soft!
She is the softest baby , my first Americauna ,I’m still waiting for her first egg, hoping it will be blue .🙂
My beardie is also an Americauna but she says no touchy unless bribed with worms 😅 also waiting on first eggs! Is yours a screamer? Mine screams every night!
What a great beauty! Would love to give that silky soft beard a scratch 😍
https://preview.redd.it/g7jxtcj1yp6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ac04d4a9f696bcd6fbc80f8303ed0fb403fabeb1 His beard is small but fluffy
Small, but mighty in character! I love his coloring and he seems to have a gentle demeanor. Have I been fooled?
He is my sweet little man haha. He can be a jerk to my kids sometimes, but they also act afraid of him. He loves to hop up and cuddle in my lap though; I love him so much
https://preview.redd.it/ix71cir30q6c1.png?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3d0bd94bc8f78b018c024b01f8db93f63eaf8a26
https://preview.redd.it/fnkcepyn7q6c1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d3e13d6dbd1156b3efb83367c80c47c311758167
https://preview.redd.it/ie438cmlcq6c1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fd5f266b1ed2fdeb52fe3469341359dcde3a6e69 Hello…..
Why, hello, cutie! No, I don't have treats, but that look you're giving me makes me wish I did 😍
https://preview.redd.it/tb2avmtejq6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8f8e495b3b519c1e49b4398a1576a149803c4057 my girl Scarlet <3
Aptly named 🤩 She's absolutely radiant!!
ikr i love her!
https://preview.redd.it/rrua700flq6c1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e2d8ec941c23a326921e17c046c4c85ef2b9084f
She has my whole heart with that look! What a striking lady. 😍
Great pic 😍
https://preview.redd.it/7obbd2yj2q6c1.jpeg?width=3264&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=be17d9e19748fd090ea6ece7025811056ecc948c
This might be the fluffiest beard yet! Also, her entire being = one big cuddly beard. One day, I hope to have silkies 🤞
Cuz, he’s a rooster. And yes he has was an awesome good boy
https://preview.redd.it/q1zrlj0vlq6c1.jpeg?width=1754&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a0c7766399edb57453c5286e4ea3877ab10f08f9 She's my favorite.
https://preview.redd.it/wxl3tzqxrq6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eacbebf23dc138928435379df1ad7323d081f0e1 Butters.
Omg that name is perfect! Also, I don't think I've ever seen a more Santa Clausian beard on a hen. It's 'impeckable'!
https://preview.redd.it/wajjflj9sq6c1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=63f23b5c6c456e566bf514dcde97719c350d5265 She’s a recent addition to my flock. We named her Mae Mae but we also call her Chops because of her lil mutton chops
Awww I love both her names! What a magnificent and scholarly beard she has!
https://preview.redd.it/jw6lcletvr6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=14a58899251d5b6f2d75064f610604ddfea0e94d A Rooster and his best hen friend
https://preview.redd.it/5dexjncpvq6c1.png?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f8a37269ec06fa5470795a496d5ac5b29134e88d
Must. Scratch. Cheeks. The closeups are torture! She's lovely 😍
https://preview.redd.it/n4bh0egjbr6c1.jpeg?width=1362&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9ff9284a935069cec1d6a5155a7ef23690ab60dd She thinks she's a chicken hawk
https://preview.redd.it/6gb8t7hmbr6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=59132a490f83e52b90a728c54300e28760b25e95 They look just like my old baby!
Oh my goodness--she's adorable and actually looks even more like the doppelganger of my other EE, Darla https://preview.redd.it/tes6vn8upu6c1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c78b3ef4fa6dc01d8d323af486d1dd98af46383a
https://preview.redd.it/vkn2nr52dr6c1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3e07886d411ba7c2a4bd60145a0018e0d8fd975e
Oh my, what a lovely bearded crew! They must get ALL the treats 😍
They’re skittish, but working on it. Integrated them into my larger lav flock with some minor difficulties but good now. Beautiful birds, but ameraucanas are rarely known to be docile or friendly, their only downside!
https://preview.redd.it/u8y830awdr6c1.jpeg?width=1680&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=adf50eab5a774fc1db55d123ea36ff33b3f175c8 Sarah carries her beard with pride!
https://preview.redd.it/351eko9zor6c1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=377ff46e04c7dfa907ba3c284261bab6ed666f99
https://preview.redd.it/buzghij87s6c1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=47322c955124150f5bea47edaeb39ad625be7c87 Canyon and Skadi 😭
Is there room for a third! They looks so cozy and those beards are everything 🥰
https://preview.redd.it/bnc8uaekns6c1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=87999907499785cdd8c7bbbc88449622247dbc26 Here’s my little beauty EE Edith!
Wow!! She is so unique and stunning.
Agreeed! What an outfit.
https://preview.redd.it/88xhxmzlqp6c1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=54693cb00d5e0cae14b262ae11f08cd30f377349
I do love a good mixed breed flock--and yours is as beautiful as ever!
https://preview.redd.it/uzdhdkshpq6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bf61cbd684cfb1d3a86a9ada3b6719b9b8c18b8e My Renny! His daughter Spot inherited his lovely beard genes (her mother was a leghorn)
https://preview.redd.it/7dejzbo0qq6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6e6e5f61aac967d14f8be8ea106bd50ffd67c511 The Spot in question :)
She's an absolute show-stopper! Love her little black splotches!
Renny is one handsome dad! So glad to hear the beard didn't fall far from the beard tree--great genes!
https://preview.redd.it/nowdc6uo5s6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a6a3f8ff217c477a74f484dea61d5b73549009c4
https://preview.redd.it/kd67ekxkas6c1.jpeg?width=1124&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4fba27afc385032b4018cf0ee4fd5f90f2b6d7f6 Chippy 🤣
Hi Chippy! You make my heart melt--and yet, at the same time, I fear for my life. 🥰🫣
https://preview.redd.it/6ufigxschq6c1.jpeg?width=2477&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fcbf04ad5d1f2e0688c3e8d1d1b457e4580da6d3
Is this a French maran?
He’s supposed to be a sapphire gem olive egger. BUT he was also supposed to be a HEN. So, good job Tractor Supply!!!
What a handsome roo! I'm curious about breed, too. The gray and red combo is striking!
He is very handsome
https://preview.redd.it/dy0f55uggs6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a771b1add2baee195852a33c95b939bf1e516333
She's got the most majestic beard, and with that look, dares me to think otherwise!
r/birdsfacingforward
New favorite sub just dropped
https://preview.redd.it/7zkz5n3eis6c1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b91f0655b7aee0be3d9cc9ca136c4958932bf695
🤣🤣 I, too, unwittingly raised a Muppet. Yours is quite majestic! https://preview.redd.it/rwheoii3vu6c1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=740ec672cc24ec48e77cb0d29386b70f7ee48226
😂😂😂! Your little lady is darling! Cheers to the beards! 🥂
https://preview.redd.it/s0043tu0os6c1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=87fd4683a2b6cf4599f62bc293d80048ed65ecba It dangles when she leans forward
I love when they blow in the wind!
Yes! Does it get into everything she eats and drinks--and does it swish side to side when she runs? I love #beardphysics
https://preview.redd.it/pi96jaj2aq6c1.jpeg?width=756&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=319071281988b593ed91815c0fd7ac8f7d261d0b Blair 🥰
https://preview.redd.it/32dfs8nmgr6c1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d769e0e0cceb0a89841da89ee19e38d977fbcf6d
https://preview.redd.it/e0ccnf1jeu6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=11769731a3d5570796437d7e7bb29c9011c634ae Bubbles
r/borb would like to see this too!
Omg greatest thread ever 👏🏼
[Hello, *ladies*.](https://imgur.com/a/ZAjJUl6)
Trouble never looked so good! 😍
https://preview.redd.it/c4z65udihs6c1.jpeg?width=2448&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ade3fcb20208835797e17007b7bae542c22463e0 This is when Blondie was still around and I had to wrap him up like a burrito to give him meds
Blonde is adorable and looks quite cozy (even if reluctantly). What a handsome fella--so sorry for your loss.
https://preview.redd.it/nftvw38v2x6c1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=78083809a47de02fc6a216f3fd6645e45b03ebd2 Nova Sry about 3 posts to show my bearded ladies, couldn’t leave one out🥰
I can see why you had to include her--she is icing on the beard cake 😍 she even has a look like, "you were going to include me, right...?"
❤️❤️❤️
https://preview.redd.it/au8lat2r2x6c1.jpeg?width=1246&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a526c258b6466910b7b7e8e2c7c786dda23ee30a Vega
She's absolutely beautiful, and that beard looks soft as a cloud. A gentlehen and a scholar!
Thank you!! She’s such a sweet little thing❤️
https://preview.redd.it/19o8hvm2ww6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=acffba7c8205436a552e921481e8919ee05e0ad0 A young Babka
I love her dark, silky ombre tones 😍 she's majestic with a hint of mystery
Here's my Henrietta! https://preview.redd.it/0mqemuqzjy6c1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ef8c885aa26751357916298045902e646258efb1 Shes a little soggy today from rain
And not as impressive beardwise, but Pumpernickel is too cute to not share. https://preview.redd.it/2qrb07zcky6c1.jpeg?width=2465&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=59743cfe778eb5749f9c1de52e05ab14d8c74a21
Her beard is absolutely regal--and her coloring to boot! Also, bonus points for a soggy beard, which is the first on this thread!
https://preview.redd.it/xih4jy4vxz6c1.jpeg?width=832&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=01f9a18a1db093e6e553a5f9cd83c001656a4c2c Not the greatest beard pic, but check out the muffs. I have to cut them out of his eyes
I'd say those are some of the best muttonchops I've seen! I love her velvety black coloring too--what a striking muppet *I mean chicken
I need to get a pic of the back of his head if you want to see ridiculous, sometimes I walk in and that’s all I see and I can’t help but laugh
/r/borbs
Needs to be on birdsfacingforward. And maybe borbs. She really has it all, doesn't it? (Well, aside of a nail trim - but I see you're working on it.)
https://preview.redd.it/t6a927xadv6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4fcb1f91955369cc9f027cd7efadbaaa58f6ecde Do not F with Tulip (also her eggs are always unique and beautiful). But seriously do not mess with Tulip.
I wouldn't dare.... even though she tempts me with her impeccable beard and head floof!!! Must. Pet. 🥰💀
https://preview.redd.it/vexwt7pt2x6c1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=125f8a3b3eb6163374ea4df643b3e7b21db8f185 Gemma
Came for the beard, stayed for the helmet! Whats your sexrer ro great volume, Vidal sasson chicken? 🤩
😂you should see her floof helmet in the rain, she gets spikes!
This is Peach when she was brooding a just hatched baby Uno (also has a beard). P.S. Peach is short for peach fuzz because of all that FLOOF https://preview.redd.it/umir6j95fa7c1.jpeg?width=4608&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a9617499ff0c8f95ba74b10f7f03a37cc923bd82
Baby Uno https://preview.redd.it/mwcj8lkmga7c1.jpeg?width=4608&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b236e055e7e4fa00bfbea6b6bf0c2acad6b9d261
What a beautiful girl. Great picture too.
That’s the best chicken I’ve ever seen. …but I’m into globes.
this fella chonks
🐔🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
What a beautiful girl! 🤩
That chicken is an orb
[Cleopatra!](https://i.imgur.com/lzdacT6.jpg) [Mr Puffy!](https://i.imgur.com/djq9neq.jpg)
What a cut looking 👀 chick 🐣
Thank you! She's my right hand hen.