Deformed beak

[aislingchef]

Hi
Sorry I always seem to use this website only when I have a question! I have a dilemma with LouLou, a 6 week old chick with a beak that looks like horizontal scissors. He's eating porridge oats instead of the chick crumb that we offer him and he's a lot less feathered than his siblings. Being that my husband saved him from hypothermia shortly after he hatched out and he imprinted on us it would be an awful breach of trust to euthanize him! It's been suggested that we trim his beak to make it shorter but I'd like to know if that would cause him any pain. We are quite proficient at keeping livestock. I can't seem to post the photo.

 

[sourland]

A bird's beak has a quick as does a dog's toenail. The idea is to trim back only to the quick. I have never seen a case where such a deformity resolved, but it is possible to keep such a bird alive - but it is somewhat work intensive.

 

[sourland]

Providing feed in a deep dish and providing moistened feed makes it easier for such birds to eat.