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

[kukupecpec]

Bird (my crossbeak) has exactly the same deformity. She is one year old now! She's the inspiration to this thread.

There is GOOD NEWS! Your bird has a skull deformity, not a crossbeak. It will not get any worse than that. My Bird is doing well and is my favorite chicken ever. I have to trim her beak and feed her by herself, but she is otherwise very low maintenance.

Do you know how this happens? Or could it be just luck of the draw?

I'm glad to hear he could be ok. I put him in with all the other babies last night and just kinda crossed my fingers - there are 6 three week old banyard mix chicks, 2 three wk old silkies and 3 four day old unknown food store chicks. He is snuggling up with everyone and wandering around, he's a lot more clumsy than the other young guys, but I'm so glad he can waddle around on his own!!!

When should I start feeding him? Can I just put it in his mouth, or do I have to put it down his throat for him? I can get a red rubber feeding tube on Wednesday if I need to.

 

[BullChick]

You can put the food in a dish or put it in his mouth. Try a few times before tube feeding him. And relax! You sound like you are worried, which is understandable. But like a baby with Colic, you need to stay calm, and just do what you can.

 

[kukupecpec]

You can put the food in a dish or put it in his mouth. Try a few times before tube feeding him. And relax! You sound like you are worried, which is understandable. But like a baby with Colic, you need to stay calm, and just do what you can.

I sort of wiped little globs on his exposed tongue and he kind of ate what he could get in, but I'm not reay sure how much he should be eating, I don't want to make him sick by over feeding but I want to make sure he gets enough to stay healthy.

I'm trying to stay calm haha, but I'm still new to chickens, this is just one more thing! I'm happy to take care of him, I just want to make sure I keep him safe

 

[Kjordanov]

I don't think my one hen has a cross beak but she has one beak longer than the other which makes her look a little funny but I think it's cute. She is friendly and runs to me every time she sees me. I love her

 

[Kjordanov]

I don't think my one hen has a cross beak but she has one beak longer than the other which makes her look a little funny but I think it's cute. She is friendly and runs to me every time she sees me. I love her

I know you can hardly tell but her bottom beak is longer and to the side a bit.

 

[cindersga]

According to my list, no one had posted here since my last question until tonight. I am sorry I missed this post.
How is Broke Beak doing? Did she make it? I am sorry you were feeling helpless. We can only do so much. You did a good job trying to help her. More than I would have thought to do!

Thanks for asking about her Motorcycle Chick. Broke Beak passed today.

 

[BullChick]

Quote: I am so sorry.

 

[cindersga]

​

MEMORIAL​

The sweetest "special needs" chicken anywhere! Ten months ago today we were blessed with 4 free chicks. Three were silkies and one was this sweet d'uccle. As she started to get older her beak began crossing and hence she got her name, "Broke Beak". She was the "pet" chicken as she was allowed to come in the house daily and dine on her mash. She would fly up to the counter to make sure you were making it right, and sample it, as you were trying to make it. She would fly on your back, arm, anywhere she could as you carried the dish to put it down. She was the first one out of the coop squawking loudly and running as fast as her little legs could carry her to the back door. Today she lost the battle of her disability even though I was syringe feeding her. She will be so missed because she was so special. I wish I could of saved her...

​

 

[kukupecpec]

Well i think this is Bernards last night. He's barely skin and bones, can't hardly stand up, and is coughing back up any food and water I try to give him.

And as I'm writing this, I just watched him go limp and he's gone.

 

[BullChick]

Oh! Again, I am sorry. I hope everyone else's birds are doing well. Cadbury has done a lot better than I thought she would.