Crossed beak not putting on weight at the same rate. To worry or not?

[Knock Kneed Hen]

I have a crossed beaked 6 wk old pullet that I'm worried about. I've weighed three birds: 1) robust BR, 2) smallish BO and 3)crossed beak EE. The first two birds put on 22 grams a day, the EE only 15 grams. Will this mean that the EE will just not develop as well and will be thin most of it's life or does this mean that this bird is slowly starving? I don't want this bird to starve to death so I'm really trying to figure it out. Please, what do you think?? Thanks

 

[HEChicken]

I'm sorry you didn't get a response right away. How is she doing now? I'm afraid I have no personal experience with cross beak but I do know that in some cases of cross beak, it can prevent them eating well and they will fail to thrive. Also, in some cases the cross beak continues to get worse the older they get. You might post some pics to see if someone more experienced can help more, but in some cases, the most humane thing to do is to cull rather than watch them slowly starve to death.

 

[Momo]

I had a couple of crossbeaks who did just fine. More often, though, as they grow they start to lag behind and fail to thrive. They spend a lot of time pecking for each morsel that they do occasionally manage to swallow. I know lots of people do fine with these (you need to file the beak for them), but I personally wouldn't try to keep a crossbeak chick now unless it was a special pet.

 

[LeghornLisa]

I have a similar problem, I have a 9 week old Faverolle who have a deformed beak. The bottom jets straight out and the top is very curved so she can never close her beak. I have filed it a few times and I actually found a vet that is going to see her tomorrow morning. I called the hatchery I got her from and they offered to reimburse me for her but my concern was how to care for her and make sure she is thriving. I purchaed "Quik Chick" from McMurray Hatchery to give her supplements to help her along. It seems like this developed as she was growing. I tried to make a paste with the food to help her and I also got her a cuttle bone but she is the only one that doesn't use it...I will ask the vet tomorrow about you girl and update you when I get home...good luck

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

According to this thread, she unfortunately had to cull it.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=331706&p=1

 

[abooth]

I hatched 2 cross beaks this year. I ended up culling both. One I think I waited too long. I think she did suffer and I did not act as quickly as I should have. I'll tell you though as hard as culling is to do, once it's done you look at your flock and all you see is healthy birds and it feels wonderful.

 

[Freckle Face Farm]

I have a crossed beak she is 2 years and has always been small but she lays eggs and is pette..Good luck with your crossed... I feed her crumble..