One-eyed Crossbeak Baby

[Weetamoo93]

Another first for me: crossbeak chick just hatched with only it's left eye. I'll evaluate how it gets around better tomorrow and the next day to get an idea of quality of life.

Couldn't get great photos, but the left eye has a bit of a "whale eye" look to it.

With two deformed chicks, I may need to evaluate my feed. It'd be hard to narrow down parentage as I flock breed with 4 possible fathers for this baby and about a dozen possible mothers (there are more 24 laying hens, but I was trying to be selective with eggs). Wish I could clan breed, but I can't set up for that. Maybe one day

 

[Debbie292d]

Awe, despite the issues, she's cute!

Were these hen hatched or incubator? I ask because deformities can not only come from genetics or a lack of nutrition the parents got, but from the incubator running too hot or cold.

For feed, we just use Kalmbach's Flock Maker for all of the chicks, chickens, and ducks. It's easiest for us. If you think nutrition is an issue, you could get some Poultry Cell/Nutri-Drench to put in their water a couple of times a week, or there's Rooster Booster granules you can add to their feed.

We have a cross beak, and after a few months, she eventually went out to the flock and is on her own. That was about a year ago. We use an electric fingernail file/dremel to trim her beak every few months, which helps her eat better. Their feeders are the PVC portal type, which helps her eat dry feed more easily. Otherwise, we wet crumbles with water and put it in a deep dish for her.

 

[Weetamoo93]

Were these hen hatched or incubator?

Broody hatched them. The other five look great!

For feed, we just use Kalmbach's Flock Maker for all of the chicks, chickens, and ducks. It's easiest for us. If you think nutrition is an issue, you could get some Poultry Cell/Nutri-Drench to put in their water a couple of times a week, or there's Rooster Booster granules you can add to their feed.

I feed Purina All Flock because I always have a mixed age flock and a local "Healthy Hen" complete feed/scratch. I try to feed moms and babies a mash of the flock raiser for a week or so away from the other birds (easier said than done). Working on a creep feeder so babies have more access to flock raiser for longer periods; the nature flock is on a limited diet.

I have the Rooster Booster electrolyte powder that I offer during stressful times, like summer. (Or when my dog feeds them all fire ant bait granules ).

 

[rosemarythyme]

Unfortunately with the cross-beak and the missing + odd eye, it most likely has skull or even brain deformities so the odds aren't in its favor.