Cross beak

[PindziaFarms]

Is there a way to fix a cross-beak? A friend dropped off an americauna pullet with a cross beak, and I'm wondering if she can be "cured" or should she be culled?

 

[PunkinPeep]

I'm not aware of a way to fix a cross beak. However, my main concern would be whether she can successfully eat and drink with her condition. If she can, i wouldn't even worry about it. If she's unable to nourish herself, then i would have to consider culling her.

 

[CMV]

It depends on several factors. Age and severity being the key factors to take into consideration. If the bird is young it may be able to be fixed (see article below). If the bird is not severely affected it may be able to be trimmed to aid the bird in eating. A deep feeder allows a bird with a mild to moderate cross beak to scoop their food thus enabling to eat. Very severe cases of cross beak should be euthanized as it is a death preferable to the slow starvation the bird is otherwise facing. Cross beak gets worse over time and there is a genetic component, so don't hatch any eggs from a bird with cross beak. Any offspring from a bird with cross beak are often even more affected by the same defect than the parent.

I went through dlhunicorn's archives and picked out this article on repairing cross beak.

Use of Penetran for Beak Malocclusion
Greg J. Harrison, DVM Dipl. ABVP Avian Lake Worth, Florida
Topical application of Penetran is effective for avian skin rashes, local irritations and ulcerations. It can be mixed with aloe vera liquid for generalized dermatologic conditions. Because it has penetrating properties, I have used it to treat some deeper muscular problems.
In two cases of a serious beak malocclusion with underbite, the only therapy was application of Penetran to the facial muscles including the periopthalmic areas. In a ten-day-old cockatoo, the muscles relaxed and the beak returned to normal positioning overnight; a full week of Penetran application and prolonged periods of manual positioning of the beak were also successful in a four-week- old cockatoo.
Penetran is a commercially available ammonium solution from TransDermal Technologies, Inc. (800-676-7354).

Good luck.

 

[wrldlygrrl]

This is mine...15 weeks...eats, drinks well...

 

[KawRiverRat]

WOW .... thats weird !