Crooked beak

[Pineconechick]

Finally got some lavender Orpingtons (I bought hatching eggs off eBay), only 3 of 14 eggs hatched and one of those 3 has crooked beak. I know I won’t be able to use this one as a breeder but is there any hope for it as a pet/egg layer?

 

[Evelyn Walker]

It might need to help eating and/or drinking, but many people have them grow up and live fairly normal lives. In my personal experience though, they are never the same as the others. Trouble eating/drinking, getting picked on, etc. Wetting chick starter into a mash can help it eat, since it's nearly impossible for it pick up dry feed with cross-beak.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

as young as it is, there may be some fixes for it, you'd have to search. I remember reading somewhere about somebody who basically made braces for his chick.

That said, if you can't fix this... this is a severe crossbeak, and its only going to get worse. Personally, I'd cull it. This chick risks starvation.

 

[Squeak61]

I have a cross beak chicken and she’s doing just fine. The only difference I’ve found is to check on them frequently to make sure they’re not losing weight. Crossbeak chickens can thrive, they just take a bit more effort.

 

[Pineconechick]

This chick unfortunately had to be put down it actually got worse already and the chick was small and seemed weak.