crossed beak. . . .

[MacCana]

In the past I would've thought it'd be easier just to put one down with a crossed beak like this, but now I realize that it's totally manageable with just a few adjustment to help her feed & drink. Her beak will have to be trimmed occasionally. There is a real great blog by a woman called the Chicken Chick where she had a hen for years that had a severely crossed beak. She was able to live a long, healthy life with only slight difficulty at times. Here's the link to the info page on the hen she had:

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/03/scissor-beak-aka-crossed-beak-what-it.html

I'd recommend you consider trying to save this chick, if you have the means to make the adjustments to help her drink & feed easier. Just don't breed her, as it's a genetic deformity & can be passed on to her babies....I know you're between a rock & a hard place. I have a 2 year old that just loves "chichens". But whatever you decide to do, I wish you luck. I'd take the chick myself, but I'm sure we live worlds away lol.

 

[Beekissed]

There are some studies that show cross beak that is not a congenital deformity of the skull, are nutritionally related and some birds are unable to produce or absorb B vitamins even when given vitamin supplements. I've seen a bird owned by one person who had a cross beak that bad and after 2 wks on fermented feed the beak resolved itself. The wet feed might also be easier for her to eat and it sure will be healthier for the rest of your birds as well. YMMV

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/645057/fermented-feeds-anyone-using-them

 

[MacCana]

In the past, I would've agreed that a chick with scissor beak or crossed beak should be put down, but since then I've realized they can actually live a relatively easy life with good health with just a few adjustments to make it easier for her to eat & drink- you will also have to trim the beak from time to time. This isn't a dead end road right off the bat. I understand you're between a rck in a hard place...I have a 2 year old that just loves her "chichens" lol.
There is an *excellent* blog by a lady called "The Chicken Chick" where she goes into detail of dealing with & managing a chicken with scissor beak. I posted all this once already, but I included the direct link & the BYC site said I didn't have permission yet to post links so they'd have to look over my post first.
So instead of that -as I feel time is the essence & i don't want you to off the chick before you weigh your options- I'm posting again, but this time, instead of a link I'll just tell you howw to find her page with this info. Just Google or Bing search the phrase "the chicken chick scissor beak" & it should bring up the link to that blog page at the very top. I recommend you giving her blog a look. She's practically a poultry genius!
I'd gladly take this baby off your hands, but as I'm sure we live many-a-mile away, thats not gonna happen. But whatever you decide to do, I wish you the greatest of luck!
PS: if you do keep her, be sure not to breed her, as this is a genetic deformity & is likely to be passed down to her chicks.

 

[Sazbaby]

I'm glad to happen across your post, as I have had a recent similar experience- I am incubating and hatching my own eggs from heritage breeds, mostly a barnyard mix at the moment. I have a group of chicks in my brooder currently who hatched out 3/18-3/19 and just yesterday I noticed one with a slight crossed beak. It's not as bad as the one in the picture of this thread, but it's noticeable. It was not there the previous day. None of the other chicks are affected, and not a single bird in my flock has it, so I'm assuming it's probably more a developmental issue than a genetically derived problem? The chick is on non-GMO feed, water containing Avia-charge 2000, and has access to chunks of soil/grass. Mine is active and alert and seems to be eating and drinking well, since the issue is currently mild. It's frustrating when something like this just shows up one day out of the blue!! Keep us posted on how your chick turns out, and I'm going to keep an eye on mine as well... fingers crossed it doesn't get any worse!!

 

[cholmberg]

Right now, she's still holding her own. As long as she can eat and drink and seems ok, I will
leave her be. I don't think it can get a whole lot worse. poor baby. But she's not lost weight,
she's eating somehow.

 

[ChickenPox]

I have a New Hampshire that ended up cross beaked. I didn't see it when she was a chick, it developed some weeks later. But she's fine. Eats, drinks, chases bugs.......as long as she CAN physically eat/drink, she will find a way to do it. Animals don't view physical deformities like humans do. Good luck with your baby.

 

[dmkaiser83]

This is my little cross beak baby. He/she has one eye and is a langshan from a hatchery. I work at TSC and was unpacking our chick order when I found this baby. Good luck with yours! This one is doing well, eating and drinking and running around

 

[cholmberg]

what the crossbeak looks like today. . ..she's thinnish, but still active eating and I try to isolate
her to and feed her stuff she can scoop up. But I do not have much hope of her doing
well in the long run. I know I should put her down, but I will take her to the vet for
that, I just can't do it myself. =( I'm a coward, yes. She got some scrambled eggs yesterday
and she ate some, she refuses to eat from my hand or allowing me to 'help' her at all.

I don't think any amount of trimming or supplements are going to help her, it's not a little crossed,
it's majorly crossed.

 

[cholmberg]

Out of nearly 80 chicks, this is the only one with a crossed beak. I don't know if I
should send a picture and notify meyer of such a deformity or if they just won't care.

 

[ChickenPox]

They probably won't care, especially if its just one. That is a pretty severe case. Yes, I would probably just put that baby down.