Diary of a Crossbeak: Support for Special Needs Chickens and their Keepers

[ramirezframing]

Well I am very late doing this but I have an update on my accidental chicks of my cross beak Peepers. All turned out to be hens, and none show any genetic oddities. If I didn't know any better I would say they wont his. But he is the only possible dad for these chicks. They seem to also have gotten their dad's brains (he was a very smart bird as far as chickens go) I cant even keep one in a pen, I put her in turn around and shes running past me

but if I sit and watch, she sits and watches me

. The one who is a lakenvelder cross came out interesting, she looks white with a little black on her tail, but if the top feathers move you can see that she's black. Each feather is black near the body and white on top

it's very neat looking.

heres a picture of Peepers

 

[appps]

Hope this okay to ask here.

I've noticed one of my new 10wk old chickens seems to leave her mouth just slightly open all the time. To start with I thought she had some crumble stuck on it from going from water to food and thats what was stopping it closing but I'm seeing it all the time if she eats there seems to be food showing in the sides of her slightly open beak so starting to think its actually something to do with her beak. It seems to look okay straightness wise though.
Any thoughts?

 

[ramirezframing]

the bottom might be to long, try using a pedi paw to shorten the bottom beak just a little and see in a few days how she holds the beak then

 

[appps]

Thanks, I did think it looked a bit like the bottom was longer than the top today but she wouldn't stand still for me.

As long as she is eating and since ive just gone and read about trimming and it sounds like it will keep growing back will it get worse if I leave it or will it just stay as is? Thinking as long as its not stopping her eating maybe ill just wait and watch?

 

[suzyQlou]

Thanks for your ideas about grit, chooks4life. I have been feeding my chicks free-choice grit because I do know chickens need grit to digest tough foods. It just took me a while to wonder how the heck my cross-beaked chick was going to peck it.

I will go ahead and mix in some small grit with the mash I feed. My next worry would be feeding "too much grit" if it's mixed in with the food. However, I poked around BYC for a little bit, and there seems to be a general consensus that any extra grit will just pass through her system.

I appreciate the feedback!

 

[suzyQlou]

Thinking as long as its not stopping her eating maybe ill just wait and watch?

You know, apps, I agree with you here. I spent a lot of time worrying about my little girl, but she seems fine. Keep an eye on her behavior. Make adjustments as needed to keep her active, eating, and growing. I bet she will be just fine.

 

[ramirezframing]

it will keep getting longer probably, if it does it can cause the beak to go sideways

 

[starlingsbaby]

Thanks! She's doing really well. Her new little serama family is really taking good care of her. My 5 wk old cross beak is outside with the other 3 her age and she seems to be eating and drinking on her own just fine. We will see what the future brings!
I wish I could help you with your chick!!! Buffy just kind of got better on her own =/

JUST TO LET U GUYS KNOW MY LIL GUY LOST HIS BATTLE JUS NOW. HE DIED IN MY HANDS. HE WAS SO WEAK. I KNOW NOW HE IS NOT SUFFERING. THANKS FOR ALL UR KIND WORDS.

 

[starlingsbaby]

JUST TO LET U GUYS KNOW MY LIL GUY LOST HIS BATTLE JUS NOW. HE DIED IN MY HANDS. HE WAS SO WEAK. I KNOW NOW HE IS NOT SUFFERING. THANKS FOR ALL UR KIND WORDS.

here is my baby that lost its battle.. i am gonna miss it so much just wanted to show yall a photo of my baby that is now my angel

 

[miguel2299]

I have a bantam road island red about a week old with its left eye popping out