Please advise... Cross beak

[Back 30]

Emery board - cheap and easy, really no different than filing your nails. Danger with using nail clippers is there is a possibility of cracking the beak (though I've used it before, if there's noticeable overgrowth at the tip, and then filed back from there).

To file I wrap the bird up so it can't flap away, then I put a finger from my non dominant hand across the bird's mouth to keep it open, and file with my free hand.

You want to file it back before it chips or cracks, as cracks can deepen further into the beak.

Is it probable to file back for a better fit of the upper and lower beak or should I only file when necessary.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is it probable to file back for a better fit of the upper and lower beak or should I only file when necessary.

I file to maintain a more "normal" fit of the top and bottom beak, as that helps prevent chipping and cracking (as the crossed beak halves don't strike each other evenly since they're not aligned correctly).

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Have you raised him from a cockerel and does his beak look similar?

Yes. He actually hatched in my incubator I need to look and see if I have pictures of him as a cockerel.

 

[Back 30]

Yes. He actually hatched in my incubator I need to look and see if I have pictures of him as a cockerel.
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That's a good looking chicken.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

That's a good looking chicken.

Thank you! I have to agree with you about that. He's handsome and a really good boy too. What's not to love I've been very shocked that his beak hasn't worsened. If I find a picture from his younger days, I'll post them here for comparison.
I had two of his hatch mates that also hatched with crossbeak. They appeared to be the same mix (eggs came from a local farm and due to the crest, dark skin, cavernous nostrils, I suspect they were mix of Polish and possibly EE? But I'm not sure). The first one died around a month old, with a crop that wouldn't function properly, in a matter of 2 days. The other died around 2 months old, very quickly. I noticed it was moving a little slow one morning and by lunchtime I found it dead in the run Auggie doesn't appear to have a very pronounced cross beak and I'm not sure if it's a cross beak thing or something else all together that causes the roof of his mouth to fill his entire top beak. You can just barely see it in the picture I posted. @rosemarythyme do you see the roof of his mouth filling his top beak? Is this typical with cross beaks or do you suspect he's got another deformity in play? Maybe that's why his hasn't worsened. If I'm not mistaken rosemarythyme helped me when I posted a thread about Auggie back when I was able to get a picture and post about him So I'm grateful for the knowledgeable input

 

[rosemarythyme]

Auggie doesn't appear to have a very pronounced cross beak and I'm not sure if it's a cross beak thing or something else all together that causes the roof of his mouth to fill his entire top beak. You can just barely see it in the picture I posted. @rosemarythyme do you see the roof of his mouth filling his top beak? Is this typical with cross beaks or do you suspect he's got another deformity in play? Maybe that's why his hasn't worsened. If I'm not mistaken rosemarythyme helped me when I posted a thread about Auggie back when I was able to get a picture and post about him So I'm grateful for the knowledgeable input

Hard to tell from that photo. Either a very mild crossbeak, or some other similar deformity.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

So I found pictures of Auggie as a young cockerel. I'm feeling like a dumb dumb right now. I was mistaken Auggie's beak started out like an under bite (under beak) but over time the top beak turned to the side slightly, which resulted in a slight cross beak. It's been like this for so long now that I had forgotten how it started out. I'm guessing this is why his hasn't progressed like the typical cross beak. His beak crossed due to something else. Please accept my apologies for any confusion! This is embarrassing but I still wanted to come back and clarify. His other 2 hatch mates had obvious cross beaks. I hope you'll continue to update about your beautiful bird