Chicks beaks off-set?

[auxanofarms]

This is our 3rd season of raising chickens, and due to some irresponsible neighbors and their dogs, this is our third year of buying chicks. We get 25-30 at a time, and this is the first time I've dealt with this, but 3 chicks within a month makes me wonder.
We had 2 chicks from one batch and 1 chick from another batch (all different breeds) develop an off-set lower jaw. What is causing this? One was really bad, almost a 90 degree angle, it couldn't eat so we killed it. Now we have 2 more that have it. Is it something with the feed? The environment?
We have a farm, so babying chickens isn't high on my priority list, but I'm just wondering if there's something I'm doing wrong that's causing the problem, I want to know! I've tried googling the issue, but googling anything with the word "chick" in it doesn't work out so well.
Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[ella]

I've had, and currently have a few chickens with this problem. I've heard it's genetic and can confirm that some of the chicks in a certain bloodline with have cross beaks although others will not.

I have also read that it can be related to a vitamin deficiency, some particular salt. I can't remember exactly though. Try searching cross beak here on BYC, you should be safe with that, although you may have a lot of info to wade through.