Beak Deformity - Should we cull?

[RoosterGeek]

Quote:
yes its true because they could either give you a refund or a new chick for the ones that were deformed or the ones that died

To their credit, they promptly refunded us for three chicks without hesitation when we called them about the chicks that died/weren't sent.

Also, it's Welp and not Ideal. Sorry about that!

 

[Minniechickmama]

I have had this twice now, once from a hatchery and once from a breeder. I would cull since once it starts getting bad, it gets bad really fast. I don't think it is a skull issue as I have read it is a tendon problem. At any rate, it is sad to see it worsen. If it weren't so severe already it might be okay, but since it is so bad so young, I would just end it now.

 

[kannna]

I would let her live if she has the will. But that's just me. Buckbeak had a very happy life and kept up with the others until she got a virus she just couldn't shake at 7 weeks. I have read that it is an indication of a genetic defect and there could also be other things wrong internally.

 

[Minniechickmama]

kannna- you are right, they can hang in there a while. The first one I had was a Polish pullet and she was going to probably live a normal life. Her's wasn't severe. The Buckeye I had with this this spring, she was okay with it one day, and the next her head was bent down a little more than it should have been, in 3 days her head was bent down so bad she couldn't lift it from her chest. The beak at this point was so crossed over it barely eve aligned at the place it attaches. It was terribly sad. She couldn't eat or drink like that and I put her down.

 

[RoosterGeek]

Wow they are fast on the response! I wrote them an email about my Buckeye just a bit ago. Here's what they had to say:

Jesse,



Unfortunately, a very small percentage of birds that hatch can have this. We try not to send they birds with the shipment if it is noticeable at hatch. Unfortunately, there is not a whole lot you can do to help the bird. If it can still eat and drink, it will probably be ok. I did not receive the photo, but if you didn’t have any extra’s to account for this bird, and if you’d like a refund, please let me know and I can take care of this for you. Thanks.


Brian Kollasch
Welp, Inc.​

 

[ReikiStar]

Nice to see they are so responsive. And thanks for correcting it was Welp and not Ideal.

I thought it was a tendon issue in our own bird, though predominantly it's said to be a genetic skull deformity or a spike in temperature during incubation (wonderful!). Somewhere on BYC people have talked about treating it with massaging a certain product into the skin. I think if it's caught early it can be prevented or the differential in beaks can be lessened with this method.