Help! I don’t know what to do with this baby! 😢

[twinmom007]

I am a first time chicken mom. I have a 3 1/2 week old chick with a scissor beak. It wasn’t to bad at first, but I am concerned... I have been feeding her crumbles soaked in warm water and she seems to be handling it well, but she eats all the time... Her sisters are playing, she is eating... her sisters are napping, she is eating. She is gaining weight, but is definitely smaller than her sisters. Her feathers are also pretty scraggly compared to them, but I have occasionally seen them preening her. I don’t know when to say when... and I don’t want to have to watch her try so hard to keep up. She is just so precious- it breaks my heart. What can I do??

 

[LaFleche]

Hello twinmom007,

sorry to tell you but in my opinion this is not only a scissors beak but a much more severe deformity of the entire lower jaw which will get worse and worse with every passing day. There is no cure for this and I would advise to put an end to the suffering, the sooner the better.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I am a first time chicken mom. I have a 3 1/2 week old chick with a scissor beak. It wasn’t to bad at first, but I am concerned... I have been feeding her crumbles soaked in warm water and she seems to be handling it well, but she eats all the time... Her sisters are playing, she is eating... her sisters are napping, she is eating. She is gaining weight, but is definitely smaller than her sisters. Her feathers are also pretty scraggly compared to them, but I have occasionally seen them preening her. I don’t know when to say when... and I don’t want to have to watch her try so hard to keep up. She is just so precious- it breaks my heart. What can I do??View attachment 2119255View attachment 2119256View attachment 2119257

Scissor beak/cross beak unfortunately can keep progressing for several months before things "settle." As long as you want to, and are able to provide care, they can live relatively normal lives! Here is some info regarding care:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...kens-including-tube-feeding-techniques.64321/

https://meyerhatchery.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360017990812-Cross-Beak-Causes-and-Management

I don't think anyone would judge you regardless of your decision, keep, cull, or rehome. Sadly though there is no cure.

 

[Geena]

she eats all the time... Her sisters are playing, she is eating... her sisters are napping, she is eating.

Trying to eat, she's probably not able to get much in. IMO it would be best to humanely euthanize that one, as the deformity is quite severe. Sorry.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Here’s a pretty good article on caring for cross beaks: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...kens-including-tube-feeding-techniques.64321/.

 

[twinmom007]

Trying to eat, she's probably not able to get much in. IMO it would be best to humanely euthanize that one, as the deformity is quite severe. Sorry.

how would I go about euthanizing her humanely?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I know this sounds rough, but for young chicks, fastest way is to clip off their heads with sharp shears. To make it easier on you, do it inside a plastic/paper bag, so you don't have to look.

 

[twinmom007]

I know this sounds rough, but for young chicks, fastest way is to clip off their heads with sharp shears. To make it easier on you, do it inside a plastic/paper bag, so you don't have to look.

Thank you... I have a hunting husband who can do it