Chick with cross beak *pics*

[ZuniBee]

I have a cross beak chick that is about 6 weeks old. It started just like yours and within a week it was double what yours is and now much more. I have been worried and have been watching her every day. Even with the bad cross she is eating and drinking fine. This is the first cross beak I have had so I'm not sure what to expect, but I did read a post where someone kept one well into adulthood. I'm going to let her continue to grow as long as she can eat and drink.

 

[CarriBrown]

I hear that with some cases, you can trim the beak little by little and eventually get it sort of straight. You'll never get it totally straight or normal because this is a birth defect that starts in the skull.
Good luck with that little one! Make sure her water and food is always full and she will learn to "scoop" with the bottom of her beak.

 

[speckledhen]

Sometimes they do well with it. HenHaven's EE hen, Hootie, is over two years old, crossbeaked and she keeps it trimmed. Hootie is at the top of the pecking order in the flock, too. If it's a pullet, I'd not breed it, but would keep it in my laying flock and keep the beak trimmed and make sure she could eat with deeper dishes, etc. If it was a cockerel, unfortunately, I'd cull it. And I have once. Hard decision for me, but a cockerel is for breeding or pet, can't lay eggs, so if you dont breed it, not much else to do.

 

[dlhunicorn]

http://harrisonsbirdfoods.com/learningcenter/BestOf2.pdf
"Use of Penetran for Beak Malocclusion Greg J. Harrison, DVM Dipl. ABVP Avian"
(excerpt)
Topical application of Penetran is effective for avian skin rashes, local irritations and ulcerations. It can be mixed with aloe vera liquid for generalized dermatologic conditions. Because it has penetrating properties, I have used it to treat some deeper muscular problems. In two cases of a serious beak malocclusion with underbite, the only therapy was application of Penetran to the facial muscles including the periopthalmic areas. In a ten-day-old cockatoo, the muscles relaxed and the beak returned to normal positioning overnight; a full week of Penetran application and prolonged periods of manual positioning of the beak were also successful in a four-week-old cockatoo.Penetran is a commercially available ammonium solution from TransDermal Technologies, Inc.
(800-676-7354)."

more info here:
http://dlhunicorn.conforums.com/index.cgi?board=linksgeneralinfo&action=display&num=1178273217

 

[dacasodivine]

I had a Barred Holland that started just like that. I even noticed it at 4 days. I had to euthenize (sp) mine at around 2 weeks. Her's got much worse and she couldn't figure out how to eat once it got bad. I kept a deep bowl in there for her and even tried hand feeding.

I think you just have to wait and see how your chick does. Some are great about learning how to adjust.

Good luck

 

[red-hen]

There was a lengthy review of Ideal by one customer that said they got chicks in 2007 with this same problem from this same company. See this link to read it: http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/comments.php?compid=4437&type=3

 

[turnerstar31]

Greats my hen also has a cross beak and I keep it trim so that she can pick. She also eats out of a deep bowl and she gets extra time to eat when I feed them. I am not sure if you would want to clip it right now I waited until mine was bothering her so she could not eat. Good luck with her I know it is either they do fine or they do not do as well.

 

[turnerstar31]

sorry I don;t I could probably post a pic tom of her as I just cut her beak. I won't get home till late so I could not do it tonight. Really all I do when I trim hers is to trim it so that the beak is as close to normal as I can get it. You also have to be careful because if you cut it to short they can bleed quit severly.

 

[courtnicole2010]

i have the same problem with my chick.
only it's a lot worse than that.
i recently purchased BioPlasma on a wesite.
www.vitapal.com
i hope i got the right stuff

 

[raindrop]

She is worse now than in the picture, she is 7 days old now and the top and bottom don't overlap at all. I keep a close eye on her and she eats like a champ. I tried to call for Penetran yesterday but was interrupted by an impatient toddler, so hopefully tomorrow. I'm giving her Polyvisol vitamins once daily (3-4 tiny drops), which are very easy to give since I can just drop the drop on her lower beak. I will give vitamins once daily for a week, then taper as per dlunicorn's usual recommendation. Will try to post an update in a few days.
Thanks for the advice everybody.