Crooked beak and a watery eye

[The Clarke Farm]

We have two pullets that we have had for about 6 weeks now. Both were lethargic when we brought them home. We added electrolytes to their water and oregano to their food. We also adjusted their heat lamp at the time. This seemed to bring their energy and activity level up. Since then the smaller one's developed a side-ways bite with her beak but still seems to continue to grow. The larger one had a droopy eye and clear discharge from her nose. The guy is no longer droopy but it still puffy and abnormal. Looking for thoughts and suggestions on what to do next!

 

[Poultrybreeder]

The one has cross-beak a birth defect that can be hereditary, the other might have had a cold, or infection of some sort?

 

[The Clarke Farm]

I assume it's an infection if some sort but it has been weeks! We have been waiting to put them with the older pullets in our main flock but have been worried about infecting everyone. How long would a cold or infection last?

 

[Eggcessive]

Mycoplasma gallisepticum is a respiratory disease that can cause nasal drainage, eye drainage or bubbles, and swelling around an eye. It is contagious, and birds will become carriers for life. Tylan 50 injectable is a medicine available at feed stores in the cattle medicines. It can be given to a chick orally 0.25 ml twice a day for 5 days to help treat symptoms. You will need to buy a few 3 cc syringes and 18 or 20 gauge needles to remove the medicine from the vial, then remove the needle to administer it orally. As for the cross beak chick, it looks pretty severe, so I would mix up a mash of watery chick feed in a deep enough bowl so she can get enough to eat. Google "cross beaked chickens" and look for TheChickenChick's article of treating these chicks. Sometimes a little beak trimming can help some.

 

[sfgwife]

We have a roo with a beak like this. We have trimmed and filed his. And it helps a little bit. Do it at night when she is a sleepy girl and it is much easier. We always have steptic powder just in case we need it. But takin a lil bit at a time we havent needed it. I was tellin hubby today that we needed get a hold of him again tonight.

I also mix up wet mash for him twice a day and he eats it quite well. Yogurt and mashed berries are easy for him to eat too. Big chunks of melon so he can jab at work good for him. Anything that can basically be scooped up helps. If treats are mixed into somethin that is semi thick they can scoop. Oatmeal, grits. He also likes to eat out of the top of the feeder.... it has no slats so he can scoop. Or keep a deep bowl of feed out for her. He does fine with nipple waterers. Dishes seem more difficult for water and him. He pecks and scratches and calls the girls... but has a hard time pickin up treats for himself. So sometimes i will pile treats up so he can dig in.

Ours used to be top dog but when the other roo decided to fight this one lost... so i am not so afraid he will breed. The other roo is very watchful of him tryin woo the girls. If you plan on lettin a broody sit eggs or incubate i would make sure hers weren't in the bunch. Might pass onto a chick.

 

[The Clarke Farm]

Thanks everyone! We have 6 other older chicks that we were going to merge them in with. If the eye infection chick is a carrier for life, will she infect the rest of the flock? Is it potentially fatal? I worry about not only infecting the older flock, but that they may attack these two (even more then they would with a regular merger) because of their issues. I'm thinking we should not ever merge them. Any thoughts?