Beak Problems with my Mille Fluer

[cindersga]

Here is a picture of my Mille Fluer and his malformed beak. I need to know what to do for him. The three other siblings are now so much bigger than he is because he can't get enough food I think. I tried making a mash of meal worms but he wasn't interested. He was so concerned that he was outside the cage and they were inside the cage. He is around 4 weeks old. Can anyone help me these are my first chickens.

 

[gamebirdsonly]

I hate to say it but it probably won't make it to maturity. I have had few over the years and most died at couple months of age.

Maybe some one here has had a success story.

Good luck.

 

[Transit]

I need a better picture! I might be able to help you save him, but I need to see exactly how his beak looks!

 

[cindersga]

He/she is the sweetest of the chickens and is the most friendly. I really hate to think I could loose it and I CAN'T KILL IT. Thanks for trying to help me.

 

[Transit]

Woah! That is a lot worse than I thought!

There isn't much I can do, but there is a thing called Debeaking, you might be able to save her, but only if you had a lot of time to spend with her and watch her everyday.
Try taking her inside, make her special food and give it to her. She will probably eat cut up mealworms, feed them to her with a pair of tweezers and SLOWLY give her water with a syringe.
If you really want to save her, time and paintence is needed.

I can't really suggest anything to you about this, because Iv'e never been through it.
But here is a link to the Wiki page about Debeaking;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debeaking

 

[cindersga]

WOW that article said the beak is full of sensation and that trimming it's beak would be very painful. I can't do that to it. I will just try my best to make sure it's eating and hopefully Broke Beak will learn to adjust and make do. Thanks for the link I appreciate your concern and help.
Cindy

 

[ejctm]

I am not an expert, but I have read about people splinting chicks' feet and legs when they are malformed. Your chick is so young and tiny I would have thought that its beak (like its bones) was still quite soft and pliable compared to an adult chicken. If it was my chick, I would think about how I could make a face/beak splint to push that lower jaw back into line. Perhaps a wire frame tied around with tape or vetwrap would work (using garden wire or large paperclips opened out. Like a head brace.

Or maybe taping the beak shut with top and bottom aligned for an hour at a time, taking it off to feed and water, and then retaping might work. You might only have to do it for a few days to see improvement. It is so worth a try!

You only have a small window to correct it whilst it is very young so don't waste any time or the jaw and beak will harden into the current shape. Get creative! And tell us all how you did it and whether it worked too. BYC is an education for all of us.

 

[ejctm]

Just found this thread - you should read it https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-for-special-needs-chickens-and-their-keepers

Not about curing a cross-beak but coping and feeding. Very interesting reading!

 

[cindersga]

Broke Beak is still eating and drinking. He/she is still smaller than the others but happy and content.

 

[ejctm]

great news