Cross Beak Silkie Chick

[MandaCy]

Hi all!
I’m new here and to raising chickens. We have 9 silkie chicks, 4 are about 7 weeks old and 5 are about 5 weeks old. One of the 5 week old chicks has a cross beak and I am starting to get concerned about if he/she is getting enough nutrients. He/she is definitely smaller than the other chicks their age. I read that laying mash could help with this in the future but not to give it to younger chicks. Any recommendations on creative ways to get enough nutrients into this chick?

Also, any suggestions on bullying? The older flock picks in the younger flock incessantly when the little ones are outside with them. Right now I have the run separated into 2 sections so that they can’t get to one another. When do you think I’ll be able to get rid of this? Worried that since they’re 2 weeks younger they won’t ever be close enough in size until they are full grown. Also worried about the cross-beaked one since they will never be the size of the other chickens.

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC. Can you post some picture of the one with the cross beak?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I read that laying mash could help with this in the future but not to give it to younger chicks.

You can make wet feed out of chick feed too. I assume you're using some form of crumble? Just add enough water to make a fairly thick paste, the crumbles will just melt into it.

 

[elisabeth_]

Hello! I also have a cross beak silkie. Her beak is not as bad as some and she is able to eat crumbles on her own... could we see a pic to see how severe it is?

 

[MandaCy]

Welcome to BYC. Can you post some picture of the one with the cross beak?

Last one for size difference between the cross beaked chick and another the same age

 

[casportpony]

That's pretty severe, but with special care they can do okay.

 

[elisabeth_]

Last one for size difference between the cross beaked chick and another the same age View attachment 2152832View attachment 2152833View attachment 2152834

yikes
my silkie’s beak is not quite this severe (she is able to eat and file her beak on her own).
I doubt filing would help at this point, you may have to look into syringe feeding.
If you think the chick still may be able to eat on its own, monitor it very close and make sure it gets as much as the other chicks. Is the chick able to drink alright?

As far as bullying, silkies are already on the lower end of the pecking order, and my scissor beak hen is definitely somewhere at the bottom among my flock of only silkies. It might work, but I strongly advise against putting him/her in a mixed flock. They will surely be picked on.

 

[MandaCy]

yikes
my silkie’s beak is not quite this severe (she is able to eat and file her beak on her own).
I doubt filing would help at this point, you may have to look into syringe feeding.
If you think the chick still may be able to eat on its own, monitor it very close and make sure it gets as much as the other chicks. Is the chick able to drink alright?

As far as bullying, silkies are already on the lower end of the pecking order, and my scissor beak hen is definitely somewhere at the bottom among my flock of only silkies. It might work, but I strongly advise against putting him/her in a mixed flock. They will surely be picked on.

Yes, he seems to be drinking okay, somehow! We installed poultry nipples in the run but it’s a bit to high up for him/her for now. I have seen them get some crumble but not as much as the other chicks and it seems like they are constantly at the feeder. I just feel terrible! I’ll try to mash the food with some water.

 

[elisabeth_]

Yes, he seems to be drinking okay, somehow! We installed poultry nipples in the run but it’s a bit to high up for him/her for now. I have seen them get some crumble but not as much as the other chicks and it seems like they are constantly at the feeder. I just feel terrible! I’ll try to mash the food with some water.

It’s not your fault, you’re doing the best you can
Since the chick is able to drink alright, I think making a mash out of the food is a great idea. I keep my silkies food dish kind of deep so my scissor beak can scoop it when she needs to.
I hope everything goes well

 

[Irishcwgrl25]

Last one for size difference between the cross beaked chick and another the same age View attachment 2152832View attachment 2152833View attachment 2152834

Mine is the same way I actually found someone near but that’s would like to take mine c I have quiet a few chickens and don’t want them picking on it. I keep wet food but it can never get a full crop. When I hatched it there was no sign of it then after about two weeks it started to show up. I let the seller of the fertile eggs know what happened but she said she hasn’t seen it in her flock yet. I don’t know what else to do but hopefully this other lady has more time to baby the baby