I've never had a crossbeak with my araucanas. I had one, when I had silkies, but that was years ago. That poor chick I culled since it could not eat or drink properly. It was sad because it was the nicest, friendliest of the chicks. I've heard that sometimes this can happen with incubation problems, but I'd watch if I were you if it continues to develop and become more crooked. I definitely would not use it for breeding if it ends up crossbeaked. I was given a crossbeaked hen long ago by someone who didn't want her. She was a good egg layer and I just kept her with my non breeding hens that I keep just to sell eggs. Her beak was severely crossed but she lived for years with no problems. She was a very messy eater and i keps a large dog bowl filled with food for her. She was a buttercup. A real cutie. I kept a Mille fleur roo in with the girls, he was such a gentleman. I never saw any missing back or neck feathers on them. They were so patient and would just lay calmly there. I was surprised that some of their eggs wre fertile, he was only a fifth of their size.One of the chicks has a slightly offset beak. It was one that was stuck in the egg and the head dried in the shell, not in proper position, probably longer than it should have before I peeled it out. Now I don't know if the problem is hereditary or due to the hatching. Carmel, you may be able to help me here.
