Cross beak, help

[Saraschickens]

Hi, I've been raising chickens for 17 years and this is only the 2nd time I've ever come across cross beak. This one is really bad. I'll post pictures. This chick is 3 weeks old.
I've heard of trimming it. That terrifies me, but it looks to be so bad and definitely effects the way it eats, drinks and grooms itself.
Does anyone know how to help this poor chick?
Thank you for any advice

 

[sourland]

Moistened feed in a deep dish may enable the chick to get enough to eat, but that is really a bad case and may escalate to the point that the bird can not eat.

 

[nuthatched]

I'm sorry , that's very bad and it will only get worse as it ages.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...re-culling-the-injured-and-sick-babies.72140/

 

[Saraschickens]

Hi, thank you for your responses! I want to try trimming it. I found a wonderful article on here. I'm not sure how to link articles. I would love if anyone can describe to me how to link articles from Backyard Chickens.
But anyways, the article is called

Caring For Cross Beaked And Other Special Needs Chickens Including Tube Feeding Techniques​

And it was a very good article on everything cross beaks!
Any extra advice on trimming it is welcome. Thank you all! Wish me luck!

 

[SB907]

I have a silkie chick with a very similar level of crossbeak and have tried a number of different feeding options since he can't pick up food off the ground (torpedos, wet mash, syringe feeding, pellets, tube feeding) and all have been frustrating for me and him. The other day, while trying to syringe feed him, I had to clear out a clog in the syringe and I plunked him in the bin of chick crumble, and noticed that he was able to actually get some food in his mouth - I've started just giving him about 10-15 minutes of all-you-can-eat buffet time in the bin 3-4x a day and he's doing great, filling his crop in that time. He is able to drink water on his own, so having him eating the dry crumble has really made it a lot easier to keep him clean too.

 

[Saraschickens]

I have a silkie chick with a very similar level of crossbeak and have tried a number of different feeding options since he can't pick up food off the ground (torpedos, wet mash, syringe feeding, pellets, tube feeding) and all have been frustrating for me and him. The other day, while trying to syringe feed him, I had to clear out a clog in the syringe and I plunked him in the bin of chick crumble, and noticed that he was able to actually get some food in his mouth - I've started just giving him about 10-15 minutes of all-you-can-eat buffet time in the bin 3-4x a day and he's doing great, filling his crop in that time. He is able to drink water on his own, so having him eating the dry crumble has really made it a lot easier to keep him clean too.

Thank you! Great to know!
The only other cross beak I've seen was on a silkie. She's was really beautiful, and then she'd turn around and we'd get a pretty good kick out of her. She ate so much dirt, it was a little concerning. But she lived a good life. She was eventually adopted by a couple that didn't mind. I never trimmed her beak though. It was less than this though, so I want to try trimming this one.
Thank you for your response! I appreciate it!

 

[Saraschickens]

One big question I have is how deep can I cut on that beak? I don't want to hit the quick, or it's tongue. But I want to go as far as I can. Any advice on a good rule of thumb to not hit the quick or make things worse? And am I supposed to trim both top & bottom? The top curls down pretty far, so I assume yes.

 

[SB907]

Thank you! Great to know!
The only other cross beak I've seen was on a silkie. She's was really beautiful, and then she'd turn around and we'd get a pretty good kick out of her. She ate so much dirt, it was a little concerning. But she lived a good life. She was eventually adopted by a couple that didn't mind. I never trimmed her beak though. It was less than this though, so I want to try trimming this one.
Thank you for your response! I appreciate it!

Yeah we've definitely got a Picasso-face going on over here! I haven't trimmed yet as he wears the top down pretty well pecking at the ground, but I am guessing as he grows we'll need to start doing that too. I plan to use a Dremel, I use that for dog nails and I would be too worried about accidentally snipping his tongue or cutting too short...

 

[CalgaryFarmer]

See my post about an underbite. I did not trim much before it started bleeding.

Link

If you look “through” the beak under a really bright light where it is dark are likely blood vessels.

 

[CalgaryFarmer]

Honestly, I would not try to trim the beak. Even if you trim it, I am not sure that will help.

I think it would be best to find accommodations that work for the chick. It is 3 weeks old so it obviously is eating and drinking. The all-you-can-eat sessions in the crumble bin sounds like a good suggestion.