Chick has developed cross beak AFTER hatching.

[shelleyb1969]

I have a BLRW chick that is 2 weeks old. When it hatched, it's beak was perfectly normal. It did, however, hatch with wry neck and was unable to open one eye. I immediately added a vitamin/mineral supplement to the water. Over the course of the past 2 weeks, it's wry neck has improved considerably, and it's even got it's bad eye half way open. It's always been able to eat, drink, and essentially do all the things the other chicks do. Since it was never in pain, and it had such a will to live, I did not cull it. However, this past week I've noticed that it's developed cross beak, and it's getting worse every day. Anyone know why? And how bad will it get?

 

[meriruka]

One of my Buff Orps' beak slowly began crossing as she grew.
I'm pretty sure it's a genetic defect, not nutritional.
I was lucky, it's not as bad as some I've seen and she is able to eat & drink fine as long as the dish it deep & I keep it trimmed. However she is lighter then my others. I guess it will depend on how bad it gets whether you decide to cull or not. I know you shouldn't breed her.

I hope it's a mild case and she does fine.

Here's my Camryn:

 

[shelleyb1969]

Quote:
Thanks for giving me hope, meriruka. If mine turns out to be a roo, then culling will be inevitable.

If it's a hen I plan on confining her in her own coop with another hen pal and let her live her life as an egglayer. My idea is if she's capable of eating, drinking, isn't in any pain, and continues to thrive as best as she possibly can, then it's not my place to end her life...especially if she can provide me with eggs.

I'm going to have to read up on this because if it's a genetic issue, then I've got this chick's normal "sibling" that I'll have to make a decision on as well.

 

[meriruka]

I've noticed the special needs chickens are always the sweetest.
Not sure how much risk there would be breeding your normal bird.
Maybe post that question in the breed & genetics section?

 

[silkiechicken]

I would avoid breeding crossed beak birds. I want to say it is largely genetic, as it is caused by bone plates in the skull fusing and thus growing improperly resulting in a twisted beak.

 

[meriruka]

Right. But what about the siblings of a cross beak?