Crossed beak chick. Help!

[Isabelstu]

my incubator had just reached 21 days and started to see a few cracks. This morning I checked on them and one of the chicks had its beak and toe hanging out of the crack it made. Apon closer inspection it has a crossed beak and a swollen eye. I believe the swollen eye is from the way it’s face was pressing very tightly agains the edge of the shell and I am hoping the swelling will go down over time. However I have never had to care for a crossed beaked chicken and I am unsure of what the correct corse of action will be.

I’ve seen this lovely lady on tiktok that hand syringe feeds her cross beaked bird every day but I have also seen a lot of people saying that if the beak deformity is too severe euthanasia is the best corse of action.

What should be my next course of action?

 

[Susan Skylark]

I hate to say it but euthanasia is probably the best option for both of you. I nursed along a wry neck and a runty little thing that couldn’t stand up straight (quail) for 6 weeks, they were miserable, always struggling for food/water, stepped on, bullied, gross (pooped on too!), and half the size of the other birds. Unless you want a project bird, it is actually the kindest thing to do. You could try a couple days and see if he grows out of it but if he doesn’t, he likely won’t.

 

[Susan Skylark]

Can he open the eye? Is it normal looking? If the eye is inflamed or deformed that is also a concern.

 

[Cheekychook11]

I had a chick with a crossed beak and it was fine, just depends how bad it is

 

[GodLovesU]

It looks to be on the same severity level as my Crossbeak hen. She made it to adulthood with no special treatment. The only special treatment she requires now is occasional beak trims. Unless the eye ends up being a problem, I say this chick should be fine.

 

[TyTheColt]

my incubator had just reached 21 days and started to see a few cracks. This morning I checked on them and one of the chicks had its beak and toe hanging out of the crack it made. Apon closer inspection it has a crossed beak and a swollen eye. I believe the swollen eye is from the way it’s face was pressing very tightly agains the edge of the shell and I am hoping the swelling will go down over time. However I have never had to care for a crossed beaked chicken and I am unsure of what the correct corse of action will be.

I’ve seen this lovely lady on tiktok that hand syringe feeds her cross beaked bird every day but I have also seen a lot of people saying that if the beak deformity is too severe euthanasia is the best corse of action.

What should be my next course of action?

I’ve had 3 cross beak chicks, and I had to hand feed 2 of them with a syringe. One of them lived a few days, one of them lives a couple months, and one of them lived a year. If it was my chick I would keep it in the incubator until it’s fluffy and put it in its own brooder, and give it food and water and also hand feed soaked food to it a few times a day. If it lives long enough it will probably start eating on its own.

 

[Isabelstu]

I had a chick with a crossed beak and it was fine, just depends how bad it is

The swelling in the eye has gone down considerably but not completely yet, it’s able to open it but is still very wonky on his feet (I thinks that’s partially my fault since I assisted hatch and it bleed out)

 

[Cheekychook11]

That’s good that it’s gone down, has he had any water or food yet?