How much should I be trying to get this crossbeak to eat daily? And can I train her to eat sideways?

[sourland]

You mentioned 'training' her to turn her head to eat. I actually had one bird who learned how to do this, but have no idea how you would train one to do so.

 

[vivaciouswoman]

Thanks! You know how much I've been through to get each one of these little lives saved in the past 6 weeks!!

 

[vivaciouswoman]

This is my Crossed beak Gladys. She is over 2 years old. I feed her crumbles. The rest of the birds get pellets.
View attachment 1472775

So she feeds herself okay? Did she always?

 

[vivaciouswoman]

Evey once in awhile I do trim her beak somewhat and file it being careful so I don't cut where the blood vessels are.

Yes, I've trimmed. It helped a tiny bit.

 

[vivaciouswoman]

You mentioned 'training' her to turn her head to eat. I actually had one bird who learned how to do this, but have no idea how you would train one to do so.

Well, when she pecks straight forward, her tongue can't help her move the food through the mouth to the esophogus, because her tongue is with the lower beak that is off to her left. I've found that it's critical to get the food on her tongue in order for her to successfully swallow, and that's off to her left. At least that's true when I'm feeding her through a syringe. And since she's feathers and bone, I'm guessing the straight-on pecking approach isn't working.

 

[vivaciouswoman]

You mentioned 'training' her to turn her head to eat. I actually had one bird who learned how to do this, but have no idea how you would train one to do so.

Can you tell me more about this? Was it a crossbeak?

We are headed for a poultry vet this afternoon. If the situation is hopeless, we will have to euthanize. I'm hoping for some sort of answer that's unexpected. Or some solution from this community. I just don't have 2.5 hours a day to feed her (5 times a day for 30 minutes) and wonder if it's enough!

And I love your signature. This community is family!

 

[Birdsong 82]

That is a good question the amount she should eat. I’m going to look into that because I guess I never thought of it because chicken just always have food and they eat what they please. Have you tried maybe wetting for food to help her eat easier

 

[vivaciouswoman]

That is a good question the amount she should eat. I’m going to look into that because I guess I never thought of it because chicken just always have food and they eat what they please. Have you tried maybe wetting for food to help her eat easier

I have not tried letting her go solo with wet food. I could try that! Definitely when I hand feed her, it has to be thinned down substantially--thinner than a shake for sure. Otherwise, she has a hard time moving it to her throat.

 

[colasurdo]

Beyond trimming, you can get a dremmel tool to file the beak into more of a normal shape. Retraining is almost impossibly as it is very painful. Crossbeak is generally caused by an entire skull deformity.

Leave the top beak mostly alone and focus more on reshaping the bottom. I’ve had good luck with just managing the shape so it doesn’t get stuck in a feeder. When still younger, supplement with eggs and yogurt to get some additional calories in.

And I know culling is never the option anyone wants but if she isn’t able to feed herself with minimal intervention after a few weeks, it might be the most humane option. Keep in mind and bird with a deformity like this is likely to be at the bottom of the pecking order and she can’t defend herself. I’ve had a flock start to canabilize a hen with crossbeak before. So sometimes it isn’t worth subjecting them to that kind of life.

 

[Birdsong 82]

It can be rough with Crossbeak But I am keeping hope for you. My mother-in-law has a cross beak EE For three years now and she’s just like all the others. Nothing gets that girl down