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

[kiana325]

i a in a dilemma with gertie..... he obviously isn't eating well, have tried various ways to feed him, he is eating very little, lethargic- i really don't think he will make it long....we need a miracle with him

He's the little one you posted photos of a bit back right? What and how is he eating now? Have you tried hand feeding him if you are willing? You might not have to do it forever, but Doc seemed to need it for a week or so. I fed him 3-4 times a day, basically as frequently as I could manage. From a syringe that I had left over from various vet visits. He ate just a couple ccs at first, we worked up to him taking 5 or more. He was probably about 2-3 weeks at the time. I think the yogurt really helped the consistency of the mix to be nice and smooth.

 

[artsyrobin]

ok, well, he is in the bathroom under a heat lamp since mama kept moving- today am feeding him eggyolk, water and vitamins in it- he is taking some, so i will keep at it...poor little guy, he started purring when he got under the heat lamp

 

[kiana325]

ok, well, he is in the bathroom under a heat lamp since mama kept moving- today am feeding him eggyolk, water and vitamins in it- he is taking some, so i will keep at it...poor little guy, he started purring when he got under the heat lamp

Doc gets cold easy too. Not enough insulation on those little bones. She's a big fan of snuggling while watching tv.

 

[artsyrobin]

Just went in to check and gertie was out of the sink and hopping around.... so i brought her back into the studio with mama and the family, she promptly started running around pecking.... maybe she will make it?

 

[ReikiStar]

It's so nice to see so many people trying to give cross-beaks a chance at a good life. We are the proud parents of an EE roo cross-beak who is a year old. He regularly spars with our Spitzhauben roo and even plays house. The Spitz shows my EE a good place to "nest" and the EE obliges by going to see this wonderful spot and making the same noise. They live with another rooster in a bachelor pad.

Col. Brandon (our EE cross-beak) gets his beak filed once a week, top and bottom. We use a Pedipaws style tool since it's quicker and easier on all of us. It literally takes 20 seconds or less a week to maintain his beak. His top beak is off to the side and grew down ward, I believe from all the pecking he did, he re-modeled how the top beak grew. I wish I could get it shorter, but it is what it is. He eats Scratch & Peck organic feed which are whole grains. He pecks at his food and kind of tosses the grains into his mouth. He also uses his tongue to capture the grains and take then into his mouth that way. He is a little thinner than the others, but he's strong, healthy and happy. We keep their feed bowl filled deeply with this feed. The worst is when he claws at it, trying to scratch it out of the bowl. No matter how many times I tell him, he doesn't understand he can't pick it up off the ground.

Just wanted to share what kind of feed works for us. Brandon was having none of that "mush" stuff, so it's a good thing he can manage with the whole grains. We also mix in chick grit so that he's getting some into his crop to break down the food.

The other roosters let him eat and when he comes in for his weekly "beakicure", we feed him until he's got a large golf ball sized crop. He can pick up pieces of bread and break some off. I also know there is no way he would have survived if we hadn't begun maintaining his beak when he was little and continue to do so. I think most of these birds need regular trimming to keep the beak short enough so that its somewhat useable.

The cross-beak is a genetic mutation that is actually a deformity of the skull. Some of us are fortunate that the birds have reached maturity and are able to feed themselves. But other birds, either their cross beak will continue to grow too severely to eat or the skull crushes in on the brain and can cause death and dysfunction that way. It's purely a judgement call on whether the beak is too severe to work with.

From my travels, I've noticed the cross-beak mutation happens in EE's and silkies more often than any other breeds.

 

[TheSitcomGirls]

I also clip my EE Sophia's beak. She is now a little over a two years old. When I notice her spending more time than normal eating I clip off just a little bit, top and bottom and it seems to help her. It's usually about once every 6 weeks.

She also has her own food dish. It is just a deep tupperwear container nailed to a board sitting on the floor. As you can see she does eat! But I pick her up at least once a week and make sure she is not getting thin.

I have never seen parasites on her. Funny thing is that I have seen my broody hen grooming her on the roost. The same hen also cleans her face off if she is covered in food....but gently. It's funny to watch. Sophie takes really long dirt baths so that must help her as well. If she is not eating...she can be found bathing in the dirt! I'm glad I decided to give her a chance...she is doing just fine! She lays three or four eggs a week....dark green!

 

[mondotomhead]

I read somewhere that a crossed beak is a problem with their muscles in their face which pulls the beak out of line.

I have a crossbeak MilleFleur boy who is the sweetest bird. (I'll get a picture tonight and post it). I give him crumbles as he can get his beak in there. I also give him grapes which I break off into small pieces and hand feed him. I make this mix of oatmeal, scratch, canned corn, canned mix vegetables and rice not only for him but for all the chickens. He can eat this too. He is doing pretty well right now. He's about a year old.

Here is his pictures;

 

[AnimalCrazed]

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

 

[mondotomhead]

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 wish my boy's beak was that small out of alignment. You can hardly tell there is something wrong.

I got Faramir when he was about 7 months old so I don't know how bad his beak was when he was a chick. I noticed with him the aligment doesn't seem worse but that his beak has grown longer.

Could I trim this off? Maybe?

 

[artsyrobin]

just a tiny bit of trim as hey have blood vessels you might snip- with my starlings i only trim the bottom


Gertie is wrapped in a fleece blanket next to me while i am working and making a purring sound... does that mean she is comfortable??? i've had silkies do that-