Dirty hen ( cross beak)

[Minili]

Hello there,

I am new here and hope to get some help. Maybe someone had/ has the same problem.
I have in my flock a araucana hen ( or maybe rooster) with a cross beak. I have no problems with feeding her etc.
BUT she is dirty. I saw her making the sandbath. But she got parasites. And because of her cross beak, she can not clean herself as good as the other ones. I had to bath her, to get rid a bit of the parasites. I have DE but at her/ him it does not work?! I clean everything every day and the others are in good condition. And to all of this, it seems she got worms, too. Ufff... How do you treat it without chemicals ?
They get vinegar in their water. I cook for them. They get their normal food and what I cook. Like carrots, potatoes, rice, herbals, garlic, onions, spirulina, gingen etc. Depents on the day, what a mix they get.

So, does someone have the same issue ? Or some helping tips how Lotti can be happi er without all these issues?
And maybe also can tell me, if Lotti is more an Otto I think it might be a rooster, she is much taller than the other two araucana girls.

Thanks a lot and send some good vibes from Tenerife!
I will add Lotti's picture for you

 

[NatJ]

Can you cut the tip end off the beak, so the beak is a little shorter? That would probably make it easier for the chicken to eat and to clean itself. Beaks keep growing, just like toenails keep growing. A crossed beak does not wear down like a normal beak, so it needs trimming sometimes.

Sorry, I do not have any suggestions about the other issues.

 

[Shadrach]

Grooming with a beak deformity is a difficult business.
As you've found out, DE won't rid a chicken of parasites.
I don't know of any 'natural' remedy for ridding a chicken of parasites. I think you will have to use a chemical formulation for internal and external.
Permethrin in powder or spray form will deal with the external parasite. You can buy products with the chemical Permethrin in the EU. It's commonly used with no reported ill effects when applied at the correct strengths and best of all, you only need one application.
In the EU for all types of worms and the drug is Flubendazole.
https://www.viovet.co.uk/Flubendazole-1/c39027/
This article may help with dosages depending on what strength of product you get.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/flubendazole-worming-dosages.75090/

 

[Minili]

Thank you NatJ! We trieb it ones, but she will not let us fix her head. Lotti is a rebell
And as written, she eats good. She gets her food in a bowl and 3 times a day

 

[Shadrach]

Thank you NatJ! We trieb it ones, but she will not let us fix her head. Lotti is a rebell
And as written, she eats good. She gets her food in a bowl and 3 times a day

Beak surgery of any kind is extremely painful for a chicken.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1166494/
If she eats okay then it's better to leave her alone.

 

[Minili]

I think when really nothing helps, I will have to do it.
I also saw Flub. to buy here on the island. Oh my poor Lotti!

 

[Shadrach]

I think when really nothing helps, I will have to do it.
I also saw Flub. to buy here on the island. Oh my poor Lotti!

I'm not a big fan of chemical treatments but with some problems you can't avoid them.

 

[Minili]

I'm not a big fan of chemical treatments but with some problems you can't avoid them.

Yes, this is why I asked if maybe someone has an other option.
I will keep you updated on this.

 

[NatJ]

Beak surgery of any kind is extremely painful for a chicken.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1166494/
If she eats okay then it's better to leave her alone.

I was meaning just to trim the end, like trimming a toenail, because it is not getting worn down properly. For toenails (dog, etc) it is better to trim a small amount often, and never a large amount. I have read that the same is true of beaks.

I did not know about the sensory organs mentioned in that link, but the illustration there still shows that the beak extends beyond them--so a small trim of the extra length would still be OK.

If the bird will not tolerate trimming, and is doing fine without it, then I suppose this doesn't really matter

 

[Shadrach]

I was meaning just to trim the end, like trimming a toenail, because it is not getting worn down properly. For toenails (dog, etc) it is better to trim a small amount often, and never a large amount. I have read that the same is true of beaks.

I did not know about the sensory organs mentioned in that link, but the illustration there still shows that the beak extends beyond them--so a small trim of the extra length would still be OK.

If the bird will not tolerate trimming, and is doing fine without it, then I suppose this doesn't really matter

Sometimes it has to be done. I've had a couple of rescue hens here that have had their beaks cut off straight at the tips to stop them pecking other hens I assume. It took me a wile but bit by bit I did manage to gently file a round into the ends.