My chick has a crooked beak

[beverlyl]

One of my newly hatched chicks has a beak that doesn't line up.

The bottom beak seems to go the right direction and the top goes off to the side. Is there anything that I can do to fix it? Will it live? Or should I have my husband get rid of it?

 

[Scubadeaux]

Hi,
Saw your post and wanted to let you know we also had a chick with a crooked beak, the bottom did not line up all the way. I was worried too. That was a year ago!!! She taught herself to eat sideways, and as a chick I always made sure she ate her fill.

The great thing about my girl we now call "Crook Beak", she had such a hard time eating and relied on us so much she bonded with our family more than the flock. She is the only chicken I have I can call her and she comes a running, sweet, and intelligent.

Not much to look at, but by far the most interesting chicken we have!!!!!!!!!!

Give your chickie a chance!

I will try and load up a pic of our glam gal


Best of luck!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Scubadeaux]

Here she is...not a great pic, the only one I had handy.

And yes, she drives the roo wild, he looooooves her!!!!!!

 

[Gonzo]

how sweet! Its so easy to just fall for our special birds! We have a soft spot in our hearts for one of our special babies..

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

I also have a pullet with a crooked beak. I worry about her but after reading several peoples posts about how their chickens have reached adulthood I've decided to give my girl the opportunity to at least try. Here's a pic I took of her today.

I won't let her starve to death so I'm weighing her regularly to make sure she's consistently gaining weight.

 

[Freckle Face Farm]

Here's my beautiful girl

she is 1 1/2 years and she eats crumble

 

[Scubadeaux]

What great pics!!!!
Nice to see them make it to adulthood, so glad to know I am not the only one with a crook beak chick.

They do seem to be loaded with personality!

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

Quote:
I sadly had to have this bird culled today. I was feeding her with a syringe because I was so worried about her. I noticed her tongue didn't look right. Upon further investigation I discovered that the end of her tongue was missing.
Worse than that, the rest of her tongue was dying. I think she must have been biting down on it in her attempts to get food. That made my decision much easier. I (not me personally) also culled the SLW with the twisted neck. She was not going to ever improve and she was not getting enough to eat.

I think it's fair to give the birds a chance to see if they will make it. I don't regret trying. I'm so moved by those of you that will keep and love a bird that is less than perfect, and even go out of your way to help it succeed. It restores my faith in my fellow man/woman.

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

Knocked Kneed Hen, You gave them a chance and I commend you for it. I've never gotten a cross beaked chicken past a few months. In fact I had to cull a 5 day old chick this morning that was worse than your pullet.

To the OP, Some say cull, some say not, but the ultimate decision is yours to make. What kind of quality of life do you think you can provide? Are you prepared to cull the bird later that you've gotten attached to?

 

[angidee]

I am thrilled to see this thread!!!
I have a silkie that is nearly a month old and has a croocked beak. I didn't know if it was something that would be her demise or if she could still live a happy chickie life.
I have been feeding a mash of their crumble & yogurt since they were 2 weeks old, so the whole flock is used to this...it sounds like it is what will get her through for life. Wet mash is a daily event-since they are silkies, they need added protein regularly anyways so this is no change to a routine that the rest would get anyways.

So glad to hear this is not a death sentence!!!!!