Facial Defirmity

[pleasant]

When we purchased our first chickens ever, the man picked them out. Babe first night we kept them in our spare bathroom tub. When we fed them we saw one would peck, get pushed aside and dance in circles. Upon investigation this chick has an eye lid on one side that doesn't fully open, and the beak does not close all the way. So it dances because it is adjusting out it right eye. I then saw that the beak is not shaped the same. When it eats you can see its little tongue flicker outside its beak and it has to turn its head to allow the feed to pass. I am sure there is no retardation but I may be wrong. We have noticed it hasn't become as large and fluffy as his other matching siblings so we started hand feeding or separating it. Now it always wants in our lap. I am sure that it isn't love for us but Survival instinct. Is this deformity common? Should we be aware of anything since this is our first flock? The first night we saw it dance in circles, we name it Dancer. I couldn't imagine losing this sweet heart.

 

[pleasant]

Sorry, facial deformity

 

[hannah311189]

Can you post a pic?

 

[pleasant]

 

[pleasant]

Do you all think he is male or female. I have some with the same comb that seem like posture of a rooster. This one has same comb but is not like them and seems more like the chicks that have small combs. Not sure of sexing. I understand cloaca sexing is difficult. I have studied herpetology but I knew other ways to sex those species. Off the bat I noticed the posture similar to what I see in flocks on farms. This one is just so weird. He/she dances in circles, poor thing shakes its head to move feed to the right of beak, I see the little tongue flicker. It is now sitting on us like a parrot. It follows our hands and dances like a dog lol. I Noticed it panting hard today so I made husband put it near the water. I think it has to put a lot of effort to drink and eat. Is it lethargic from struggling to maintain food or water or retarded in brain brain development. Or has it bonded so much from feeding it that it doesn't Rush away from us. I can poke my finger and pet it and it lays still, while the others jump up, take a few strokes, pecks us or runs away. Sorry for novel.

The other side of face is normal.

 

[Eggcessive]

Beak deformities can be common in chickens, and can be due to heredity, incubation problems, or mineral deficiency in the parents. I would not bring him or her. Feeding mositened food in a deep bowl may help. Here is a good link to read about taking care of a chicken with a beak deformity:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/03/scissor-beak-aka-crossed-beak-what-it.html

 

[pleasant]

Thank you so much for that site. While Dancer say perched on my husband for the picture session I saw that he seemed to be panting and I had him sit by the water and he went right for it. I had guessed he was having difficulty swallowing. The nipple system seems perfect for him.
I am so glad I found this site because you guys have so much knowledge. Thank you guys.

 

[Toddrick]

It looks like a boy to me

 

[pleasant]

It looks like a boy to me

That's what I thought. Bummer we bought 6 and now half are Roos most likely