First cross beak chick

[tsperry88]

It appears I have my first cross beak chick. It's slight at this point. Does it get much worse with age?

 

[AltonaAcres]

From what I've heard, yes it's gets worse as they get older

 

[featheredplanets]

It can get worse with age and no there’s no cure. It’s up to you whether you raise or dispatch the chick. All scissor beaked chicks can be raised into fully normal functioning hens and roosters, they just require some extra care like deep food pans, also best not to breed from them incase it’s genetic

 

[My2butterflies]

Yes.

Mine got much worse. She can still eat, but I need to trim her beak

 

[MilesFluffybutt]

It does get worse as they age, but it stops at 5/6 months of age. CB is a skull deformity - caused by either genetics, poor positioning within the egg, or trauma. There's no way to correct it.

With few special considerations, such as feeding mash and assisting with preening, CBs can and do lead normal chicken lives.

Hawke, my CB EE, has an extreme case. I rescued him from an ag store, expecting it to be hospice care, but he survived and thrives. He's over a year old and is able to feed himself mash. I just have to help him preen and give him a bath once a week.

If you're interested in learning more, let me know. I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. There's also a really great FB CB group that can help out.


Days old chick.

5 months old.


Year+ (He's messy because he just finished eating.)

 

[tsperry88]

She is 1.5 weeks old and her buttom beak overlaps the top by about half. So far she eats and drinks out of standard waterers and feeders, and is outgrowing the others.

 

[MilesFluffybutt]

Can you feel her crop after she eats?

 

[tsperry88]

It felt rounded and firm. I cant be sure she is getting enough water, but I tried to get her to drink from a deep dish, and she swallowed once and refused more.

 

[MilesFluffybutt]

Drinking is a bit more of a challenge for CBs. You can try getting her to eat water-heavy fruits and veggies, like watermelon or cucumber. Even wetting down some of her food would get some water into her system.

 

[Peppercorngal]

As long as your chick can eat and drink on it's own I wouldn't worry. I had a cross beak rooster who lived a long life on his own. No help from me with eating or drinking and he turned into a large beautiful rooster! He lived a long happy life. Elwood was a nice and well behaved to humans as well as being a great leader for the flock!