Crossed Beak

[Evans7]

One of our chicks has a crossed beak, she appears to be eating and drinking fine. I read several postings that said they trimmed the beak. Any advice as to how much, top and lower, just lower, etc.?
Thank you!

 

[DickGJ]

Quote:
What kind of breed is that...she's beautiful. I wish I had two of them...

 

[Autumnchicken]

Quote:
I love your girl! What is she, I want one!

 

[HHandbasket]

I have a white faced black Spanish chick that has an ever-so-slightly crossed beak and is missing her left eye. She's 3 weeks old, eats and drinks and runs and plays with the rest of the WFBS in the pen. She seems otherwise healthy, and I hope she grows up to be a healthy little egg layer! Obviously, she's not going to be part of my WFBS breeding program.

Does this happen more frequently in shipped chicks, or does it happen also in chicks hatched at home?

 

[CherryChick]

How do you know how far to trim back the beak without hurting the chick? I have one that is about 6-7 weeks old.

 

[Samilitant]

I would not trim it at all. I tried to trim mine when she was young and it was bleeding and horrible, and it STILL stayed crosses, so no point to it to me. I guess if there is a part of it that is thin at the end you could trim a little off--kindof where it stops tapering thinner and gets more flat than tapered. "Brownie", my cross-beak chicken, is one of my best layers, and the friendliest(probably from the coddling she got when she was young).

 

[katnjul]

We have a crossed beak chick silkie and we have been trying all these methods and although she seems chappy and playfull, she is not growing which is making me nervous. is there any signs if she is not going to make it? She feeds out of a kids teeth rinsing cup and drinks that way as well and then we teezer feed her worms and bugs once a day. She LOVES mealworms. She just is not growing and I am concerned. Here is a pic of her and her same age flock mates.. Any suggestions-She is the tan silkie and the black silkie on her side hatched the same day.

 

[akovia]

I have a white faced black Spanish chick that has an ever-so-slightly crossed beak and is missing her left eye. She's 3 weeks old, eats and drinks and runs and plays with the rest of the WFBS in the pen. She seems otherwise healthy, and I hope she grows up to be a healthy little egg layer! Obviously, she's not going to be part of my WFBS breeding program.

Does this happen more frequently in shipped chicks, or does it happen also in chicks hatched at home?

Cross beak is a genetic syndrome. If you have the inclination, most birds can be kept in good health with regular trimming. Since the condition is genetic it is NOT recommended that these birds be bred.

 

[Chica Lady]

I have a 27 week old EE that has just recently developed the cross beak. Is there anything I can do to fix it? It is not severely crossed, just off a little. Why would this have not shown up any sooner, like when she was a chick? If it's a genetic thing? I discovered the problem this morning.


Old pic from May, but the best one that I have. She is the white one.


Here is one of the latest ones that I have. From July.

 

[snowflake]

....I have a cross beak it has been that way since she was a chick.... the only reason I can think of that would make it show so late would be that it is a small deformity in her skull and took this much maturity to show..mine is 3 yrs and VERY crossed. I can't see her beak very well from your pic but that would be my guess,,, as far as I know there is no fix
Sorry I couldn't be of more help