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

[Katt66]

this is handy she is a good girl. She is 5 week old.

She's a very pretty girl. What kind of chicken is she?

 

[fallenangel79]

She's a very pretty girl. What kind of chicken is she?

EE

 

[bantambury]

hey guys! im so happy I have this group to come to! form what I have seen, this group helps special needs birds.

I came here because one of my silkie babies have a crossed beak.....like its relly little.....but I was just asking you all for your opinions...













I am a little worried about this fella here, although his beak isn't too too bad yet......





will it fix itself?

Am I able to fix it if he is one day old? If so, how can you fix the beak so it will not get worse?



THANKS GUYS!

~Bantambury

 

[Jrose]

What did your birds look like as chicks? I'm just worried for my bird she has a very slight cross at 6 weeks of age but i noticed it after a few days old or maybe a week! I just want to see if others started out slight and after 6 weeks it is still slight! I'm worried not because the care of a crossbeak, I'd do that willingly, but because hubby won't allow it

I already posted a picture but this one is a little better

I don't mean to be off-topic, but that's a beautiful bird! What variety?

 

[fallenangel79]

 

[KelsiNS]

Crossbeak photobomb

 

[BullChick]

My poor Cadbury is dead. My husband was taking care of the animals while he was home, and didn't keep the feeders full enough for her. They were all actually empty when I went in. So mad!

BantamB, a cross beak won't get better. You should get the chick used to her beak being filed ASAP.

 

[Katt66]

My poor Cadbury is dead. My husband was taking care of the animals while he was home, and didn't keep the feeders full enough for her. They were all actually empty when I went in. So mad!

BantamB, a cross beak won't get better. You should get the chick used to her beak being filed ASAP.

Awwww! So sorry to hear about Cadbury.

And I'm afraid I have to agree BantamB, they won't get better. But you can do a lot to help them out. Definitely get her used to having her beak filed and being handled in general. It's hard to tell by just looking at a chicken exactly what kind of condition she's in. With all those feathers and a definite "prey animal instinct" to hide any injury or weakness. You've got to get your hands on her every day and make sure her crop is full and her breastbone isn't pronounced and pointy so you know she's eating enough AND actually staying filled out enough from what she's eating. Even though she's too young to actually have her beak need filing quite yet you can still hold her and just sort of mess with her beak for a few minutes a day. That wy when the time comes that she does need weekly filing or whatever she won't be totally terrified about it.

Good luck with her. There definitely IS hope for a crossbeak chicken.

 

[AlpineButterfly]

My poor Cadbury is dead. My husband was taking care of the animals while he was home, and didn't keep the feeders full enough for her. They were all actually empty when I went in. So mad!

BantamB, a cross beak won't get better. You should get the chick used to her beak being filed ASAP.

I'm sorry! Poor Cadbury. Hope your other chickens are doing ok also... empty feeders are no good!

 

[bantambury]

well, today I checked on my little old cross beak......it has fixed itself! (I hope forever....

hatch day the next day today
"well would you look at that!"


I have been monitoring her.....eatin AND drinking!