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

[DavidILoveYou22]

OK, I'll try that. Thanks!

 

[browning6]

this is my silver laced cochin hen. I didnt notice her crookbeak until she was about a month or two old. but she does great. she eats with the others and is justa as big as her hatchmates. I hope it continues.

Has anyone tried to trim the beak back and see if that helps them eat?

 

[happylittlehens]

I have been trimming my EE's beak but she doesn't seem to be able to eat any better. I'm still having to hand feed her mash. It's a slow process, but hopefully I can get it trimmed back enough that she can eat on her own again.

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

My cross beak hen wants to be a mama. She is meaner than the boys! That alone makes it funny to me. Then there is the fact that she doesn't get enough food in her in a short period to keep the eggs warm enough. And lastly, you know a hen loses weight while brooding. Cadbury can't spare any weight.
So, I finally got her broken. Poor thing. She just wants to be like the other three broodies.

Motor chick, I know this is old, but if you fed her a high carb diet, so she's getting twice or more carbs, then she could go broody w/o sparing weight. Just so ya know

A friend of mine has a cross beak... My Q is, it's not a bad cross, could she just be with the flock? Or should we give her a higher carb diet so she can catch up with her friends and not risk losing weight?

 

[DavidILoveYou22]

Well, my Dancy left me tonight. I tried everything, but she just wanted to go and I could tell so I searched online the most human way to cull, and did it. I think it hurt me more than her. She will forever be in my heart and always a part of my soul. Rest in Peace Dancer.

 

[BullChick]

Dave, I am so sorry.
Cochin, I did finally let her have two eggs. She ate them both the last week. I am assuming (hoping!! )I they were duds. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[BellevueOmlet]

That is so sad. I'm sorry

 

[wildriverswolf90]

This little guy was born two days ago he already has a noticeable scissor beak and didn't developed an eye or socket on the left side. When you feel his skull on that side it is solid and flat, no socket at all. I made him up some mash with nutridrench starter, egg yolk and warm water, he is in his own brooder with a couple bantam chicks for companionship.

any advice that can help me would be amazing. I am reading through this thread but with nearly 600 posts it'll take me awhile and I'm real nervous about this little one.

 

[happylittlehens]

Hopefully the little chick will just learn to adapt. I have a 22 week old EE with a crossbeak. She never really did adapt and has a hard time eating by herself, so I hand force feed her mash a few times a day. It's time consuming and kind of a pain sometimes, but she is just the friendliest girl and now she is like a house pet that doesn't live in the house Good luck!

 

[wildriverswolf90]

I hope so almost a week old and still thriving, eating okay, as long as I make a clumpy mash he can pick the clumps from. He is full of life and so far staying strong. s/he has been affectionately named Popeye