Deformed beak?

[NevadaRon]

I have a batch of chicks I got early in Feb. I noticed today that one of the Ameraucana's lower beak doesn't line up with the upper one. It's off by more than just a little bit. I've got 21 chicks in the brooder (10 for a friend, 11 for myself) so I don't know if it was always this way or not.

I picked her up and gently pushed the lower beak back toward where it is supposed to be. She didn't flinch or squawk or react at all, so it doesn't seem to be an injury. She apparently has no trouble eating or drinking. I'll try to get a picture of it and post tomorrow. Just wondering if anyone has seen anything like this or has any ideas.

 

[froggiesheins]

From what I have learned on BYC it is called cross beaked and is a deformity from birth. If he/she can eat&drink OK than all is good. But I have read that some of the birds with this cannot eat/drink and are culled. I know others will answer with much more info than me, but I felt like throwing in my 2cents worth of knowledge. Hope it helps.

 

[AZBootsie]

I hatched a Crossed beak Ameraucana in Feb. So far it is eating and drinking OK. From the research I did, it looks like it is hereditary. Really hoping mine turns out to be a pullet. Then I can just add her to my laying flock. If she is a roo, I will have to cull her.

 

[CMV]

It sounds like crossbeak. You may not have noticed it initially because it tends to get progressively worse over time. Fortunately, it stops worsening at a certain point, I assume when the majority of the skeletal growth is completed. Crossbeak is thought to be hereditary, and is often worse in successive generations, so it is important not to allow this bird to breed. Deep feed and water dishes will help the bird to consume enough to survive with a mild case of crossbeak, but more extreme cases may require some beak trimming to allow a bird to eat and drink. The most extreme cases are frequently fatal as a badly afflicted bird can't get enough nutrients to sustain them. Since your bird is over a month old I would say that the beak is as bad as it is going to get, so she may be alright in the long run.

I have a bird with a mild crossbeak. She has done just fine. Her beak causes no problems, although it looks slightly ragged and unsightly. I contemplate trimming it to clean up its appearance, but I don't see as it would be of any benefit to her, so I refrain from doing so.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[dsqard]

Like CMV said it can get worse so keep an eye on it. Really not much you can do to keep it from getting worse if that is what is going to happen. I hatched a chick that was totally normal and then it started to get a cross beak. It eventually got so bad I decided to put the poor little chick down. It just couldn't get enough food even with a deep dish but like I said it was a very bad case. Had it only been slightly off I would have let it live. Keeping my

that your chick's stays mild.

 

[NevadaRon]

Thanks everyone! She seems to be getting plenty to eat and is otherwise very happy, so I'll keep an eye on her.

 

[Secretchicken]

I have a crossbeak golden seabright and am lucky her problem didn't get to the point where she couldn't eat or drink. When she was little, I used a nail file to gently trim the edge of her top beak and now use kitty nail scissors to keep it in check. Be careful trimming the beak tho because there is a live area just inside that can bleed and hurt if you hit it. She pecks hard to overcompensate for her issue. She is the sweetest bird.

 

[NevadaRon]

Here's the pic I promised of little "CB" (my new name for her!)

 

[NevadaRon]

Bump

 

[NevadaRon]

Well sad news. I had to euthanize little CB.

She just wasn't getting enough to eat. She was less than half the size of her flockmates, and even smaller than some BOs that were 4 weeks younger. Bye bye, CB. You were so cute!