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

[estamets]

I have only done it once, but I used my dog's nail clippers. It has a stop to keep you from cutting too much off at a time (better control). I just trimmed the end off at an angle that looked like it would benefit her eating. The pale pink "quick" inside/underneath the beak is a blood vessel that is easier to see in lighter colored beaks. It extends close to the tip. You can cut close to the quick so that it begins to recede, and you may be able to trim farther back within a few weeks. Otherwise, the blood vessel can keep you from trimming off the desired amount.

Thanks! I just pulled her from the roost to try filing a little, to see if I can get everything to line up. Spoke with the breeder, and she swears this is the first crossbeam she's heard of from her line. That means it might be an injury.

If it's an injury, does that mean it might be correctable?

 

[estamets]

Okay... silly question, but I just can't wrap my head around it. What is the main purpose of beak trimming? Should I be trying to get the tips to line up? When I look at my little Chuck, I can't quite figure out what I should be doing to help her.

 

[Wishapup]

Thanks! I just pulled her from the roost to try filing a little, to see if I can get everything to line up. Spoke with the breeder, and she swears this is the first crossbeam she's heard of from her line. That means it might be an injury.

If it's an injury, does that mean it might be correctable?

Okay... silly question, but I just can't wrap my head around it. What is the main purpose of beak trimming? Should I be trying to get the tips to line up? When I look at my little Chuck, I can't quite figure out what I should be doing to help her.

I'm no expert and I'm sure you'll receive a more knowledgeable answer! In the meantime:

When did you begin to notice the issue? I tend to think most crossbeaks are the result of genetics...I can't think of an injury that would cause that specific beak growth. However, I'm sure it's possible and I have heard it mentioned.

The way I imagine it, the crossbeak is a certain curved growth of the beak (skull defect) while an injury would (typically) be more of a misalignment from being damaged. I'm sure it can be hard to distinguish between the two in some cases.

As for the purpose of beak trimming, I'm not sure exactly to what extent it has helped. To me, it was just experimenting to see if anything would help her. My goal was to keep it from growing further downwards and curling. When she opens her beak, I don't want the upper tip to extend down in her way, so I trimmed this to possibly assist in eating food. She's getting bigger, it seems to me, and doing fairly well.

Polly's upper beak is useless for the most part. Her lower beak is not really misaligned, and she uses it to scoop food/water. However, due to the lack of upper beak function, pecking/picking is impossible, so trimming is just to get some of it out of the way.

Good luck with your chicken!

 

[Wishapup]

See the little white tip at the end of the upper beak in your picture? For my bird, I trimmed this because it was getting longer and I didn't want it to get in the way of her eating.

 

[estamets]

See the little white tip at the end of the upper beak in your picture? For my bird, I trimmed this because it was getting longer and I didn't want it to get in the way of her eating.

Thank you! She got a nice spa day this morning- shampoo, blow dry, manicure! (Somebody pooped right in the middle of her back. How does that even happen???!!!)
I'm paying special attention to her today. She eats well from our feed tube, LOVES the nipple waterers (all the babies do), she's a pro at grabbing worms, but trying to eat little bits from the floor gives her more trouble than the others: she can't quite manipulate bigger chunks, but she's getting better at it. Luckily, she's my friendliest little one, so it's really easy to grab her and file her down. I'll be sure to "fiddle with her beak" as often as possible so she's used to it, as suggested here.

As always, thanks SO MUCH for the input and support. I love the BYC community!

 

[brittfish]

Cinnamon, my cross beak ameraucana ( pictured in previous thread ) is quite a bit smaller than the other chickens. She gets fed twice a day and seems to be content with the amount of food after she is done but can forage at all as she can't pick anything up. It's quite sad to watch as I just want to give her a bug or something but she can't eat it. But anyways, she's not as robust as the other chickens and I worry about her at night as it's getting cold out. They're 4 months and a little bit old now and just starting to sleep on the roost instead of the floor in a ball and I think cinnamon misses the pig pile as she tries to get on the roost to crawl under another chicken which is quite funny to watch as they all get ruffled off but tonight for instance she didn't succeed in getting under someone and her usual friend "Sugar" (baking names for a bakers dozen of chickens) has started to roost so isn't down for snuggling in the corner she tried unsuccessfully for a good 10-15 minutes to snuggle with someone and ended up in the corner on the floor by herself.

I have a couple concerns and think I know something to try as I was in there watching them try to find their spots I realized we need to add another roost but didn't want to tonight as they were all in for the night. I'm not sure if they'll be able to snuggle better if more roost room. But currently Cinnamon is sitting on my shoulder and I'm concerned that is not a good place for her. I was thinking of letting her out during the day and keeping her in at night but from what I understand they gradually get used to the cold. I'm just not 100 percent convinced she can keep herself warm. I don't want to do anything detrimental to her but I want to help her if she needs it. I think it's also important to note that we bring her indoors to eat as the others love it and push her out of the way so I'm afraid that is making it so she can get used to the cold. I'm at a loss not sure if I'm helping or hurting her...

 

[artsyrobin]

quick question- i have 3 crossbeaks, does anyone have issues with freezing weather, do you bring them in for the winter? i m afraid of frostbite on the tongue?

 

[Wishapup]

quick question- i have 3 crossbeaks, does anyone have issues with freezing weather, do you bring them in for the winter? i m afraid of frostbite on the tongue?

That's a good question. I have not wintered a crossbeak before, but this will be my first experience with that. I haven't heard of this issue being mentioned but it might be a valid concern. Hope it goes well for your chicken!

 

[artsyrobin]

Quote:
thanks, am thinking i may need to section an area in the coop and add heat to the coop or bring them inside- just to be safe-

 

[estamets]

I just cut chuck's beak back a little too far and made her bleed. Thank goodness that (a) I didn't cut all the way, so it's not gushing and should close up and (b) I had styptic powder on hand, nearby, and opened.
Lesson learned: if it seems to be causing her discomfort, it probably is, and I should stop.

Taking a deep breath. I don't like hurting my girls!