My most special chick has a Cross Beak!

[PurpleCArTires]

I just incubator hatched these guys 5 days ago. I got the MOST special chick ever (that we have hatched). Its got spots, different colored eyes, speckled beak, and an awesome beard <3

But... this morning I noticed a cross beak developing. Its lower jaw feels very loose. It is eating and drinking.

Does anyone have any ideas on correcting this? I feel I caught it very early and there might be a chance to fix it. I'd hate to cull this beautiful baby, he/she is truly one of a kind and I would love to see it mature!

Mom is an EE, Dad is either Jersey Giant or Freedom Ranger

 

[Firsttimehens1234]

I just incubator hatched these guys 5 days ago. I got the MOST special chick ever (that we have hatched). Its got spots, different colored eyes, speckled beak, and an awesome beard <3

But... this morning I noticed a cross beak developing. Its lower jaw feels very loose. It is eating and drinking.

Does anyone have any ideas on correcting this? I feel I caught it very early and there might be a chance to fix it. I'd hate to cull this beautiful baby, he/she is truly one of a kind and I would love to see it mature!

Mom is an EE, Dad is either Jersey Giant or Freedom Ranger

I’m not a specialist in what caused it or how to treat it but I do know a lot of chickens who live a very happy life having a cros beak. Is it drinking and eating well without trouble?

 

[PurpleCArTires]

I’m not a specialist in what caused it or how to treat it but I do know a lot of chickens who live a very happy life having a cros beak. Is it drinking and eating well without trouble?

Yes, it is as of right now its eating and drinking fine.

I have had one other cross beak (i did not hatch it). Its beak got so bad it was eventually starving. I put so much time into that chicken, trimming its beak, special feeding etc, and it still didnt matter, he ended up loosing weight and much smaller than the other silkies. I ended up culling him.

I honestly wouldn't want to put another chicken through that

I am hoping someone has successfully banded or corrected the beak if caught early. This just started today. It was not noticeable yesterday at all.

 

[Eggcessive]

Unfortunately cross beak tends to worse as the chick grows. It is a birth defect and there is no way to prevent it. You can make sure they are able to get enough food by offering crumbles and later on, moistened feed from a taller sided container. Later beak slight trimming may keep the top and lower beak meeting. I would not breed this chicken, but it may be able to lead a good life. Here is an article on what might have caused this:
https://www.mypetchicken.com/blogs/faqs/all-about-crossed-beak-in-chickens

 

[PurpleCArTires]

I read another post and someone recommended BioPlasma. I just ordered a bottle. its worth a try to save it. Otherwise, I'll see how bad he/she gets and decide to cull later. Thanks!

 

[sroseman]

How is she doing?

 

[PurpleCArTires]

How is she doing?

Thank you for asking. I ended up culling. By 2 weeks old, it's beak had gotten so bad it couldn't eat. It completely twisted to the side. It progressed so fast, I couldn't even believe it. I should have taken a pic to show you guys

 

[Ometra]

Thank you for asking. I ended up culling. By 2 weeks old, it's beak had gotten so bad it couldn't eat. It completely twisted to the side. It progressed so fast, I couldn't even believe it. I should have taken a pic to show you guys

I’m sorry for your loss.

 

[PatricaPhelps2995]

How did you kill it?