Hmmm...strange beak deformation in silkie

[morelcabin]

I have a 4week old silkie chick that I thought had an eye infection at about a week old. Brought it in the house, but antibiotic iontment in the eye for two days and put it back out with the others whe the eye seemed clear enough. Funniest think, as it gets older it has a very noticeable crook in it's beak, that curves toward the same side as the infected eye. It is curving more and more as it grows. The eye still doesn't look bright and healthy either. I may have to cull it...not sure. Anyone ever see something like this before?

 

[morelcabin]

Anyone?

 

[Smoky73]

It is probably not likely related to the eye problem, its likely just a coincidence.
Crossbeaks happen. I had two, one I didnt see until the chick was about a month old and then I noticed it and it was really bad. We put the chick down. The other one I didnt see till it was older, but likely just due to the top beak growing too fast and twisting it out of whack.

 

[angelmarie]

isn't there a way to clip or shave the beak? to sraighten it out

 

[morelcabin]

Well I am just going to hold off and see how bad it gets. I did some research, some ppl raise these birds with minimal probelms, others have to cull because it gets too severe. I will eventually cull if it is suffering for it

 

[angelmarie]

o ok well if it is just the top beak growing too fast i believe it can be clipped like what they do for chicks

 

[lemurchaser]

I don't know my bird nerve anatomy well enough. But if it was a dog or cat, you are describing perfectly a facial nerve paralysis. Facial nerve innervated the upper lip, and lacrimal (or tear) glands. They are prone to having a dry eye on the side of damage, that often leads to ulcers on the cornea or other eye issues. Without feeling on the the side of the face, the muscles contact and pull the tip of the nose towards the side with injury. They can also have a droopy eyelid and droopy ear (depending on where the injury is).

I'm not sure if this helps or not, but it does explain all the signs. And if it is this, then it will not improve or get worse (once the face is deviated as much as it is going to). No reason they wouldn't live a normal life, but watch the one eye for signs of corneal problems.