Crossed beaked sikie : any way to improve her condition

[al6517]

I have a 4 mo old white silkie pullet that was givin to me, she has a severe crossed beak as I hear is somewhat common in some silkies. she is eating and drinking and seems to be in very good health, Now!! she does eat pretty strangely. Is there anything I can do to help her pick up her feed better, maybe file down and try to shape it somehow??. will the beak bleed at all??. does having a crossed beak effect their vision, perhaps like crossed eyes and focus??.

If you have anything that maybe able to help me, please feel free to chime in.

Thanks folks
AL

 

[meezermom]

That's too bad - no way to "cure", but it might be able to be managed.

Talk to your local vet (yup! one that treats birds) They can trim the beak - either by dremel, and/or trimmers, and/or filing. How effective it will be...only time will tell.
Of course you know this is inherited...

Yes, beaks will bleed, just like a toenail on a dog that is quicked. That is why I suggested letting your vet do this (& they have the right tools).

Good luck, Al!

 

[al6517]

I have been doing some looking around and most people are saying the same thing, I do have a dremmel tool with the proper attachments, and I could sure do it. So I am brain storming here.

Bear with me, if this little girl has learned to feed herself so far and is still only 4 mo old, what about making a prostetic, I have a way i could make her an artificial beak that could trap food so much better, may resemble more of a ducks bill, but she may be able to learn to use that, and hopefully thrive instead of just surviving.

What do ya'll think.

AL

 

[Wifezilla]

If she is growing and eating enough...why not just leave her be?

 

[rjv_piper]

My grandma had a silkie like that... she did okay and I think she's still alive... I don't think that my grandma had anything special done either...

 

[PurpleChicken]

We've had a few crossbeaks, all different breeds. Most of them passed on
early or were culled. I find that a lot of the times there is more going on
than just the beak. We had a Polish that had a bad CB that lived over a
year. We kept her with the silkie flock so she wouldn't have to compete
with the big hens. Even with all that eventually the beak, or something
else, led to her demise. I've heard this same story over and over again.

We have a 7 week old silkie with a CB now. Of course she has to be a
favorite bird.

The only real answer is TLC. Consider pairing her up with a gentle hen
and keeping them in a mini coop away from the flock.

Wish I had more for you bro.

 

[al6517]

Quote:
Thanks PC, How ya doin!!.

Yes I may leave her be and see what happens, but this prostetic thing has me wondering, what do you think ??. it may be interesting to try and if it does work just think of all the folks we could help w/ the same problem.

AL

 

[Cetawin]

One thing to remember...keep food in a deep dish that she can get to...that way she can scoop her food up and it is easier for her. With her CB her ability to peck and grab may be impaired.

I had a Salmon Faverolle with a beak problem but hers was not crossed it was that the top and bottom meet perfectly so there was not overlap for the beak to completely close. I trimmed with a dremel and sanding attachement...did it real quick and rounded it. She bled a little but nothing too bad because she jerked her head to one side and I caught the quick a bit.

 

[al6517]

She is seperated now with deep food and water bowls, she's doing ok for now.

AL

 

[PurpleChicken]

A prostetic beak does sound interesting.

You would have to grind down the birds beak a lot or at least until
it lines up.

How about taking a beak from a meat bird and shaping it to fit the
silkie?

I suggest doing some dental studies such as what kind of glues they
hold caps and crowns on with. Maybe Mahroni could help with this.

You and your silkie would be famous.