Is this very slight cross beak?

[Tookie]

Yesterday I noticed my 10 1/2 week old Easter Eggers beak was a bit off. When she was younger I never noticed any cross beak, so I don’t think she had it when she was younger. Does she have a very slight cross beak? Will it get any worse?

 

[Tookie]

Here are some more pics I got of her a couple weeks ago.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

It does look like a very slight crossbeak to me. If she were younger, I'd be more concerned about the potential for it to worsen dramatically as she grew, but if it's only at this point at 10.5 weeks, it's possible that it may stay relatively minor. It looks like her beak is slightly off in the earlier photos, too.

Meyer Hatchery has a post about cross beak that mentions that when if it occurs from 4-12 weeks, injury or nutritional deficiency can be the cause. Assuming there was no injury, is she eating a properly-formulated diet?

One other thought: her crossbeak could have been nearly imperceptible when you got her, and maybe you didn't notice. How long have you had her now? It doesn't seem to be progressing quickly.

She's a pretty girl. I hope her beak is just a funky little quirk and that it won't affect her quality of life. Best wishes!

 

[FowlRancher]

I have a 2 year old Rhode Island Red that was given to me with a much more crossed beak than that and she is doing quite fine. In fact she is the alpha hen of the 7 I currently have and runs the show!

As @FoodFreedomNow said it will hopefully be a funky quirk!

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes I agree that appears to be slight cross beak, a condition that may worsen with growth. Beak trimming (slightly) with dog nail clippers and filing may help to keep the beak in line, and keeping the upper beak from getting to long can be done to help. Eating crumbles or moistened feed from a tall sided feeder can help them get more to eat, if the beak is severely cross. Here is some reading about it:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/scissor-beak-aka-crossed-beak-what-it/

 

[Tookie]

Assuming there was no injury, is she eating a properly-formulated diet?

She is eating 18% protein chick starter/grower feed. I transitioned from 20% protein to 18% protein when they were about 8 weeks old.

How long have you had her now?

I ordered her and her flock mates from Ideal Poultry, they hatched February 23rd and I got them the 24th.

She's a pretty girl. I hope her beak is just a funky little quirk and that it won't affect her quality of life. Best wishes!

Thank you!

 

[Tookie]

Wow, been so long since I created this thread! I forgot about it, I thought I should update it once I saw and remembered it.
But, my Easter Egger never did end up having cross beak, which is great!

This is a recent pic of her.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Wow, been so long since I created this thread! I forgot about it, I thought I should update it once I saw and remembered it.
But, my Easter Egger never did end up having cross beak, which is great!

This is a recent pic of her.
View attachment 3638466

That is great news! She's a lovely bird.

 

[Tookie]

That is great news! She's a lovely bird.

Yes, she is quite a lovely bird! She's a good girl. ❤