Cross beak and missing toe tips!

[Gerbil]

One of my Silkie chicks had a slightly crooked beak when he was hatched, since then it has gotten worse. It is not bad yet just a little tiny under bite. What should I do? What causes this? Also, he is missing the ends of his toes! He was born this this way, any idea what could cause this???? The humidity in the incubator?

Help!
Gerbil.

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Quote:
I have a scissor-beaked Easter Egger. It can be a genetic thing or due to an injury. I'm sure my hen was never injured. It has gotten worse over time, but she manages just fine. Putting feed in a deep bowl helps her quite a bit. Every few months, we trim her top beak with a dog nail cliper as it tends to grow too long and we think it helps her (must be careful not to trim too far down. Did it once. Bled for a long time. She recovered just fine though.).

She spends quite a bit more time than the other birds eating b/c it's so difficult to get the feed into her beak, but her weight is fine and she's my most productive and reliable layer!

At this point, she's due for a beak trimming:

 

[Gerbil]

Quote:
I have a scissor-beaked Easter Egger. It can be a genetic thing or due to an injury. I'm sure my hen was never injured. It has gotten worse over time, but she manages just fine. Putting feed in a deep bowl helps her quite a bit. Every few months, we trim her top beak with a dog nail cliper as it tends to grow too long and we think it helps her (must be careful not to trim too far down. Did it once. Bled for a long time. She recovered just fine though.).

She spends quite a bit more time than the other birds eating b/c it's so difficult to get the feed into her beak, but her weight is fine and she's my most productive and reliable layer!

At this point, she's due for a beak trimming:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/43104_8-25-10_esthers_beak_44.jpg
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/43104_8-25-10_esthers_beak_42.jpg

She's cute!
Is there anyway I could stop it from getting any worse? Any idea what caused the missing toe tips? Either way she's a keeper, I have a soft spot for "imperfect" chickens.

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Quote:
I'm not aware of any way to keep it from getting worse. Sorry, I don't know about the missing toe tips either. Sounds like a breeding problem though.

I understand what you mean about having a soft spot for the "imperfect" chickens. Here's another one of mine. She's a bantam, Cochin Frizzle. Her frizzle is over-permed and she's got the most horrendous molt I've ever seen. Her entire under side is naked!! Poor thing!
Phoebe:

 

[Lovable Chicks]

I too have a cross beak EE. I didnt notice it when she was a baby but noticed it about a month ago. Her name is Peanut cus she was the smallest chick for quite some time and now I think I know why. Its not bad and she has grown about the same size as the others. Sure hope she will be fine as my granddaughter has picked her out to be her favorite.

 

[Gerbil]

Dozen girls
Poor little Phoebe! She is still very cute.

Lovable chicks
I also have a dwarf chicken, a little Serama named Beejee. The smallest chicken just got smaller......

I guess I will be stuck with my little cross beaked, peg toed pirate Silkie!