Cross Beak

[robin416]

How many have had a male with cross beak? What I've noticed over the years is that is predominately females that we hear or see that have cross beak.

Of those birds most did not have the twisted, curled upper beak but a misalignment.

The curled, twisted upper beak has been shown to be genetic. But I question whether genetics plays a part in the misalignment of the upper beak since it very different from the genetically linked type.

For those that have had that misalignment and you can remember, were they artificially incubated?

Can you think of any other anomaly such as poor egg storage? Weather, feed issues?

 

[Bravo]

I hatched a cockerel from an incubator who at a week old began to have misalignment on his lower beak. The egg he hatched from may have been refrigerated--I cant say for sure. All I know is that I have hatched hundreds of birds from that stock and never saw that again.

He's 2 years old, living with a friend and loving life

 

[robin416]

That's exactly what I'm looking for. Thank you.

 

[Bravo]

Before making any assumptions there are a few factors that should be taken into consideration.

You mention that cross-beak is a predominately female occurrence. Could this be that the data population are predominately purchased sexed birds from a hatchery and thus there aren't many male birds for comparison? Or, is the population those individuals who have hatched eggs and experienced this problem from the hatch-lings?

There are definitely more female chickens out there than there are males so it would be hard to infer that certain deformations are sex-linked without extensive study.

I totally applaud you for looking into this! Best of luck with your research.

 

[robin416]

Actually I'm looking to see if there is some evidence for it not being genetically linked but one of environmental cause. Whether male or female.

I've seen about even up on the sexes for the genetically linked type.

 

[Bravo]

Quote:
I see.

I am definitely inclined to agree with you that the this specific deformity is environmental. If it were hereditary I would have expected to see more occurrences of it in my hatches

Of course, I am speaking from a personal experience rather than scientific basis.

 

[abitcrunchy]

I realize this thread is a little old but I keep thinking of something that I can't help but wonder...my cross-beak Black Australorps (we think is a rooster) was pecking at the thermometer. Next thing I knew, the thermometer was broken, it was very cheap and I'm thinking a few nights of 90 degrees and it was easily breakable. I keep wondering if the mercury could have caused his malformed beak. He seems to be eating and drinking just fine but is only about three weeks old. The beak is obviously deformed. Rex lives among 8 hens and I'm wondering how good a rooster he'll make? I would like to know more about trimming of the beak since he is still so young.

Thanks for your help!