Crooked beak

[TrappingNY13]

I've read about crooked beak chicks I have the general gist. I tried feeding her yogurt and soft stuff she looked at like I was dumb. Lately I have been putting my girls(a little over 6 weeks) outside during the day until I finish their coop up. They are ready I am not predator proof enough i dont think. Any ways this poor girl follows me around chirping her head off. She is about half size of other birds her breed and age. I try to put her out and she runs back to he porch. The last few days ice been putting the rest out and letting her try to get her food. She chirps whole in broder but won't go outside with others. I havent noticed any bullying at all. I'm assuming she is getting at least some nutrients because she has survived. I put her in the broder and she keeps her head in the food for 2 hours. I'm not really sure what to do. Can't see myself being able to kill her other than shooting which is over board and I want to give her the best shot at life.

 

[SMorrison7k]

Unfortunately, if she is that much smaller, it sounds like she is probably nutrient deficient. The only thing I could recommend trying is keeping her in her own coop / pen with crumble (no pellets). Give her fresh wet crumbles daily.
But it truly might be the kindest thing to cull her if she is not receiving proper nutrients.
Sorry you are dealing with this!

 

[nwsunshine]

We have a four year old blue Wyandotte with a crooked beak and she keeps on ticking. We got her when she was a day old. It is genetic and didn't show up until at least 10 weeks or more, and over the years has actually gotten worse. It is twisted and has a longer top beak, like a fang.

We do did a lot of extra hand feeding, especially when she was small and we were worried. She is able to gobble up a certain type of food or treat better than other types. For example, a small piece of cheese rounded in your fingers, or corn if it is in an angle in your hand. You'd be surprised how much they actually can get from free ranging. She is able to eat crumble layer feed but she does when it is deeper and at her beak level. She kind of shovels it in. She is a fighter so she has adapted to life with a little help from human hands.

 

[TrappingNY13]

This is exactly what I've read. I'm hoping shes okay out in the coop with the other girls. I don't have the room to keep the brooder inside anymore.

 

[coach723]

Mix her crumbles with water to make a loose mash and put it in a deeper dish. Raise the dish up to the height of her back, that will help her scoop with her lower beak. If she can feed well, she may do OK. they often can adapt with a bit of help. They can all have mash, most birds like it that way. It will also help hydrate her if she's having trouble with drinking also. I'd raise the water up and put it in a deep dish also. She will have difficulty pecking things from the ground or ground level.

 

[nwsunshine]

I also wouldn't worry about keeping her with the rest of the flock. It is better that way so she integrates with them and finds her place in the pecking order. One thing we did with the weak ones in the beginning is to pair them with another easy going one, in the same pen, but separated by wire so they could all see each other, but the weak ones wouldn't get harassed, for a few weeks until they got stronger. Then they also have a buddy later on.

Our crooked beak one is actually near the top or at the top because she has learned how to survive. She actually took on a stray female peacock that befriended the farm one time, it was really funny to see them beat their chests against each together. She did back off eventually.