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

[Davlyn]

I am so glad this thread was recommended to me. My RO Pullet is crossed beaked. I posted B4 , but did get this thread. I am thinking about bringing lizzy in the house. I have an Xlg dog crate/ cage ( its all open ) . were I dod not have room in my office I thought for now I would put it in the basement. My only concern is that no one is down there alot. I would dislike her being alone so much I am going to read thru this thread.. TY

 

[Davlyn]

I am so glad this thread was recommended to me. My RO Pullet is crossed beaked. I posted B4 , but did get this thread. I am thinking about bringing lizzy in the house. I have an Xlg dog crate/ cage ( its all open ) . were I dod not have room in my office I thought for now I would put it in the basement. My only concern is that no one is down there alot. I would dislike her being alone so much I am going to read thru this thread.. TY

well I did nip the points of the beak, & as it reads thru the thread she has gotten worse as she gotten older, she 5 mnths now. I put her in the crate, she was not happy at all. so she's back out with the flock. I tried to hand feed her, she did ok, but wasn't sure whats what as I never did it B4. I always let her & the other 4 in her coop out 1st to eat & I have been making a mash. But I don't think she eats enough thru the day as the others will scuff up the mash 1st I will just press on & hope she makes it.

 

[Nimby Chickens]

well I did nip the points of the beak, & as it reads thru the thread she has gotten worse as she gotten older, she 5 mnths now. I put her in the crate, she was not happy at all. so she's back out with the flock. I tried to hand feed her, she did ok, but wasn't sure whats what as I never did it B4. I always let her & the other 4 in her coop out 1st to eat & I have been making a mash. But I don't think she eats enough thru the day as the others will scuff up the mash 1st I will just press on & hope she makes it.

Separate her when you feed her, give her the mash and let her have ample time to eat it. Make sure the dish is deep enough. Be advised they do make quite a mess eating wet mash so stick her in a bathtub perhaps.

 

[Little Roughian]

I trimmed my little Stewie's beak once a week (I was a baby about taking to much off and only had nail trimmers) but that seemed to keep it from getting to much worse as I could continuously keep it trimmed nice. Take your time with the hand feeding. It took Stewie about 2 wks to figure out and I came out 3 times a day. Once she figured it out she'd come running for her snacks. Yogurt was a good motivator! I fed the other birds a little snack so they'd leave her alone. In the beginning I'd put her in a small pen so she could see other birds but there was no competition.
hope this helps a little! Good luck!

well I did nip the points of the beak, & as it reads thru the thread she has gotten worse as she gotten older, she 5 mnths now. I put her in the crate, she was not happy at all. so she's back out with the flock. I tried to hand feed her, she did ok, but wasn't sure whats what as I never did it B4. I always let her & the other 4 in her coop out 1st to eat & I have been making a mash. But I don't think she eats enough thru the day as the others will scuff up the mash 1st I will just press on & hope she makes it.

 

[BullChick]

I have started making fermented feed. Cadbury had her own dry feed, and was doing fine. Now she stands inside the feed bowl, and everyone eats around her.
We will see how she does, but I am guessing she will be a happier bird now. I will keep her feeder up unless I am sure she doesn't need it.

 

[Nimby Chickens]

I hope everyone's special chickens had a great holiday.

 

[Scottyhorse]

Hi, our Silkie hen had some chicks in November. They are all crosses since we have assorted roosters. About 2 days ago, I discovered that one has cross beak. Me an my brother brought it inside and trimmed its beak down as far as we could. It seems to be eating and drinking okay, because it is not much smaller than the others. Our chickens free range, and they also have access to food and water in the coop. My only real worries are that it stays warm enough under the hen, and making sure it gets enough to eat. Here are a couple pics.






Sorry for the bad qaulity, I had to take them with my ipod in the barn.

 

[BullChick]

Cadbury has food hardened in her feathers. Can I just cut it out (the tips of the feathers like a dog's bottom danglies). Also her weight is 3lbs. 6.8OZ. Is that okay for an Ameraucana?

 

[BullChick]

Hi, our Silkie hen had some chicks in November. They are all crosses since we have assorted roosters. About 2 days ago, I discovered that one has cross beak. Me an my brother brought it inside and trimmed its beak down as far as we could. It seems to be eating and drinking okay, because it is not much smaller than the others. Our chickens free range, and they also have access to food and water in the coop. My only real worries are that it stays warm enough under the hen, and making sure it gets enough to eat. Here are a couple pics.






Sorry for the bad qaulity, I had to take them with my ipod in the barn.

I have been surprised by how well Cadbury is doing outside so far this winter. The mama should take care of keeping the baby warm enough.

 

[cindersga]

My little d'Uccle, Broke Beak, took a turn for the worse a few weeks ago. She has been inside in a cage all this time. She is nothing but skin and bones, very wobbly and unsteady. First thing I did was worm her, then we did an antibiotic, and now Vit E, Selenium, Poly-vi-sol. I feed her organic refried beans, scrambled eggs, yogurt for protein and good gut stuff. I even did steel cut oats today. I don't know what to do to help her. I don't know what is going on. Just hoping she'll get better.