Scissor Beak in a 3 week old chick

[JSDWilliams]

Hello, BYC!

We hatched 7 wonderful, healthy chicks in my classroom 3 weeks ago. As it has grown, one of the chicks has shown itself to have what looks to me like severe scissor beak.

I’ve read that scissor beak tends to get worse as chicks grow. Considering that this little one is 3 weeks old, any opinions on treatment or prognosis?

 

[sourland]

That's bad for such a young bird. Yes the condition tends to get worse as the bird ages. It presents a long term husbandry problem. Providing moistened feed in a deep dish can facilitate feeding, but such birds are generally malnourished.

 

[chkva]

Awe poor thing... You can do a mash (water and feed), but I think it'll end up being starved in a sense because getting enough feed and water with scissors beak like that will be hard... It'll be even harder once it's older. Maybe someone on here knows more that can help you, but the life it's had so far is more than it would be given most other places! I wish you luck with this chick and to finding a solution!

 

[trumpeting_angel]

There’s another recent thread with a YouTube video called “Saving Elvis” - this sweet man hand feeds his scissor-beaked chick until the vet teaches him how to keep it trimmed. I just read it yesterday or the day before...

 

[littlepip]

you'll have to trim it when it gets too long and curled, and you might have trouble teaching her/him to eat, but best of luck to you!

 

[trumpeting_angel]

Here’s the link to Saving Elvis:

 

[rosemarythyme]

That's pretty bad already and will probably get worse as it ages. You can try feeding it wet feed in a deeper bowl to make it easier for it to eat, but if it starts to decline you need to decide if you realistically have time to take care of its needs (potentially hand feeding or tube feeding it for life). If the answer is no it's kinder to put it down than to let it slowly starve.

 

[Stacyoung13]

View attachment 1780895 Hello, BYC!

We hatched 7 wonderful, healthy chicks in my classroom 3 weeks ago. As it has grown, one of the chicks has shown itself to have what looks to me like severe scissor beak.

I’ve read that scissor beak tends to get worse as chicks grow. Considering that this little one is 3 weeks old, any opinions on treatment or prognosis?

Such a sweetheart, I adopted a white crest blue polish that hatched with a severe case of cross beak and only one eye.

I hand feed her every couple of hours and make sure she gets plenty of water with an eye dropper. I make sure that her crop is just as full as her sisters are. She is 4 days old now and runs around and tries pecking and everything just like a normal baby!! Her name is BEAKERS, and she is beyond precious. You have to be willing to take the time and have the patience to care for her. Good Luck