Deformed Beak and Throat/difficulty breathing 5 week old chick

[Javlagrisar]

My 5 week old Easter egger/ black Australorp chick has this beak deformity which I really haven’t thought much of since it eats well and is a similar size to the other. Recently I notice it forming this thing under its beak and when I feel it, it feels like cartilage in the neck. It’s like it has a hard time breathing and it drools a bit because of the deformity. It runs around just fine during the day and keeps up with the others but I’m worried for it’s long term health. Has anyone seen a deformity in the throat like this before? I can’t find anything googling for it.

 

[sourland]

Not certain what is happening there, but if it is a progressive situation the longterm prognosis is not good. I'd trim the tip of the upper beak to aid with eating.

 

[Duckduckchicken32]

@azygous might be able to help. Sorry about your chick!

 

[coach723]

I agree with trimming the upper beak. What does the inside of the beak/throat look like?

 

[azygous]

At first I thought the chick was a parakeet. The beak is pretty deformed, but if it's a similar size as the others, it's getting enough to eat. I would try trimming the upper beak as much as possible just this side of nicking the quick to give it better eating ability.

Regarding the "cartilage" under the beak, I assume you mean under the lower beak in the throat. Have you tried prying open the beak and looking into the throat with a flashlight?

When you have a chick with outward signs of genetic deformity, like an iceberg, there are often more deformities inside the chick. But on the chance this might be a crop issue, check the crop in the morning to see if it's emptied. The chick may not be digesting its food properly. Do the chicks have access to grit? It's around this age that chicks get crop issues when they're fed treats without getting any grit to digest them.

If you suspect the chick is constipated or has impacted crop, give it coconut oil.

 

[Javlagrisar]

At first I thought the chick was a parakeet. The beak is pretty deformed, but if it's a similar size as the others, it's getting enough to eat. I would try trimming the upper beak as much as possible just this side of nicking the quick to give it better eating ability.

Regarding the "cartilage" under the beak, I assume you mean under the lower beak in the throat. Have you tried prying open the beak and looking into the throat with a flashlight?

When you have a chick with outward signs of genetic deformity, like an iceberg, there are often more deformities inside the chick. But on the chance this might be a crop issue, check the crop in the morning to see if it's emptied. The chick may not be digesting its food properly. Do the chicks have access to grit? It's around this age that chicks get crop issues when they're fed treats without getting any grit to digest them.

If you suspect the chick is constipated or has impacted crop, give it coconut oil.

It totally looks like a parakeet! If I didn’t see it hatch I would think the same thing. I’ll trim back that beak and see if I can get a picture of the throat. The crops are all emptying just fine and I put some extra grit out with their food. I do notice this chick’s crop is never quite as full as the others. When I look down the throat it’s like it’s choking on it’s own tongue and it has to keep swallowing saliva. I’ll try and post a pic of it today.