Bottom beak out of place

[free range by day]

Has anyone seen this before?
It’s bottom beak is out of place quite a bit! Honestly I don’t know if it is an injury or is just growing that way. Anything to be too confused about as long as it’s eating and drinking? I can squeeze the top and bottom together and it doesn’t “seem” to be bothered by it, but of course it doesn’t stay together. Is it scissor beak?

 

[AinaWGSD]

You do not have to cull if you don't want to. A bird with such a defect obviously should not be bred from, but if you are willing to take the time and put in the work there's no reason they can't be pets. However, this chick will require a lot of extra help to thrive. Cross beak chickens can starve to death with a full bowl of food under the wrong conditions. Even when they make it to adulthood they do have a significantly shorter life expectancy. Most people believe there is a high likelihood they may have other defects that are less visible (ie problems with their internal organs).

If you don't already have a gram scale I would definitely invest in one and set a routine of weekly weight checks to make sure the chick is growing and watch out for any weight loss.

Search the forums here for cross beak, there's a lot of threads with helpful information on managing this condition.

 

[MilesFluffybutt]

Yup, that's a crossbeak. The condition is very common and can be caused by poor hatch position, trauma, or genetics. EEs, Silkies, Polish and a couple others end up with it.

It's a deformity of the skull and there's no way to fix it - despite what you read on the internet. It does get worse over time, but tends to stabilize in the final position at about a year old.

It does not need to be a death sentence. Many CBs, including mine, live long lives with a little bit of support.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

We have a lot of chickens, for eggs, but this is one of two of my 11 year old daughter’s very own “pet” silkie chicks. Do I have to cull him or her, or is it sometimes manageable with mash/ deep feeders, etc.. ?

NO!

Everything is a personal choice, and if it's manageable for you, what a lucky chick!

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

Here is a good article about cross beak chicks that I found today:
https://thehouseofmisfits.com/cross-beak-chickens-a-complete-care-guide/

good article.

 

[free range by day]

He was four (maybe five) when he passed last year of cancer. Given his deformity, I did not expect him to live long.

He was able to self-feed and drink. Per my vets advice, I let him self-feed and only provided supplemental feeding via syringe when he dropped below a certain weight. We couldn't making tubing or torpedo feeding work so my vet and I figured out how to syringe feed. It's not as safe as tubing so I don't recommend, plus it takes a lot more time.

I bought him vits/mins/electrolytes to mix into his mash. I eventually moved to a custom feed which was ground finer than traditional feed. It made syringe feeding easier. It's actually made by the woman in the video embedded in the article. I'm also a member of FB group. It's a very supportive community and made having a CB just that much easier and less frightening.

Thank you so much for feedback and help. I’m feeling more optimistic and we will see how it goes. When we first noticed it today ( don’t know why we didn’t before since we do daily chick brooder chores) I asked a friend about it and she said it won’t survive and to cull it. I’m glad I posted here!

 

[nuthatched]

It's cross beak. Unfortunately, it will likely get worse as it gets older but I don't think it painful. Deep feeders will be needed.

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

Has anyone seen this before?
It’s bottom beak is out of place quite a bit! Honestly I don’t know if it is an injury or is just growing that way. Anything to be too confused about as long as it’s eating and drinking? I can squeeze the top and bottom together and it doesn’t “seem” to be bothered by it, but of course it doesn’t stay together. Is it scissor beak?

this is a crossbeak. it happens rather regularly, there are usually one or two of these posts a week. although I personally have not, and hope I will not get one, most mild crossbeak babies are alright as long as they can eat. others have recommended a deeper food dish, to help them reach the crumbles.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I can squeeze the top and bottom together and it doesn’t “seem” to be bothered by it, but of course it doesn’t stay together. Is it scissor beak?

It's likely congenital not an injury. (in my experience, though there can still be many causes)

As stated by the other poster it will very likely get worse with age.. that's why it's so obvious now and likely was not at hatch. In addition to the deep bowls suggested, long term they may also need help grooming. and have no way to preen properly (spread the oils from the gland to around the feathers for water proofing, etc).

Don't squeeze them together.. it's part of the skull...

https://grubblyfarms.com/blogs/the-flyer/how-to-care-for-a-cross-beak-chicken#:~:text=Cross beak originates from within,injury or a nutritional deficiency.

I cull (eliminate not rehome) for the condition.. but I have goals which don't include weak genetics or flock members (which invite *more* opportunities for illness and predation to the rest of the flock).. and do have the possibility of (accidentally) passing genetics on via breeding/hatching.. Nothing to be confused about if you know YOUR goals and perspective.

Still a little cutie!

 

[free range by day]

It's likely congenital not an injury.

As stated by the other poster it will very likely get worse with age.. that's why it's so obvious now and likely was not at hatch. In addition to the deep bowls suggested, long term they may also need help grooming. and have no way to preen properly (spread the oils from the gland to around the feathers for water proofing, etc).

Don't squeeze them together.. it's part of the skull...

https://grubblyfarms.com/blogs/the-flyer/how-to-care-for-a-cross-beak-chicken#:~:text=Cross beak originates from within,injury or a nutritional deficiency.

I cull (eliminate not rehome) for the condition.. but I have goals which don't include weak genetics or flock members (which invite *more* opportunities for illness and predation to the rest of the flock).. and do have the possibility of (accidentally) passing genetics on via breeding/hatching.. Nothing to be confused about if you know YOUR goals and perspective.

Still a little cutie!

We have a lot of chickens, for eggs, but this is one of two of my 11 year old daughter’s very own “pet” silkie chicks. Do I have to cull him or her, or is it sometimes manageable with mash/ deep feeders, etc.. ?