Crooked beak? Cross beak? Neither?

[KrysMarie]

I just picked up a Rhode Island chick today about a week old. And I noticed her beak curves to the right while looking at her. But her bottom and top beak seem to be aligning just fine. Should I be worried?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She's a little cutie pie

I could be wrong, but more than likely she is suffering genetic/developmental disorder. I don't think there is much that can be done to correct it. See that she is eating her chick starter well. It won't hurt to offer poultry vitamins once a week.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Hi! @Wyorp Rock is so right....she is a sweetie!

I had an Old English Game Bantam chick that hatched fine but developed the same thing your chick has as she aged, so a bit different. I did administer poultry vitamins and it did seem (at least to me) to help slow/arrest the curving. I agree with trying giving poultry vitamins.

I had a several cases of deficiency type cases and with those I gave a weaker vitamin solution...but over more days in the week.

I did find the top of her beak grew and didn't wear properly so it required a tiny trim every so often so it wouldn't cause issues.

 

[KrysMarie]

Okay I'll try that. Thank you.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

LOL

Just keep watch on her, feel her crop when she goes to sleep at night, it should be full.
She may have been just picking at the piece of food as well - they do pick/drop/pick, etc.

If you see that she is having trouble, offer the chick starter wet for a while to see if that makes a difference.

 

[KrysMarie]

Well at least now I have some insight. After trying to google crooked beak all I would get is cross-beak which doesn't look like what I'm experiencing. She's a sweet chick, and my daughter thinks the beak gives her character. Is there any reason to believe she may not make it because if this? I've read somewhere that they have a hard time eating on their own....?

Thank you for responding. So far this is the most helpful information I've received.

 

[KrysMarie]

Also the right eye tends to be shut most of the time. The beak bends to the right could this be the cause?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If she is currently eating/drinking on her own, gaining weight and keeping up with the chicks her age, then I wouldn't be too concerned.

You mention that you have read that some may have trouble eating on their own. Chicks with Cross-Beak/Scissor Beak can have troubles - this is where the upper and lower beaks do not align and it is difficult for them to pick up food.

Here is what cross/scissor beak look like:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/03/scissor-beak-aka-crossed-beak-what-it.html

 

[KrysMarie]

Or maybe she just didn't like thcrumb lol I'm not sure

 

[KrysMarie]

She also tends to close her right eye pretty often.