Defective Chicken

[CrookedWarden]

While visiting with the chicks today, I notice one of them is defective.
By that I mean its beak does not line up. Rather than the tips lining up like its siblings, this one is off to the side a bit like crossed fingers.
It does not seem to affect its ability to eat or drink although it is also the runt of the litter.
I assume there is no real cause for concern & it's just a derpy bird.
Thoughts?

 

[nuthatched]

Cross beak aka scissor beak. It might get worse and need special care as it grows.

 

[CrookedWarden]

Cross beak aka scissor beak. It might get worse and need special care as it grows.

What sort of care are we talking about?

 

[nuthatched]

What sort of care are we talking about?

Deeper feeders, possibly beak filing, nothing major. Worst case scenario is tube feeding but it's uncommon, most birds do fine with just deeper feeders.

 

[CrookedWarden]

Deeper feeders, possibly beak filing, nothing major. Worst case scenario is tube feeding but it's uncommon, most birds do fine with just deeper feeders.

Thanks for the input. I can put my wife's mind more at ease.

 

[rosemarythyme]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...kens-including-tube-feeding-techniques.64321/

Personally if it got to the realm of needing tube feeding I'd cull the bird, but otherwise feeding fermented feed (which I already do anyhow) or providing basic maintenance (like filing the side and clipping tip of beak) is pretty easy. Something like filing/clipping only needs to be done sporadically.