Scissor Beak

[ChickenDuckQuail]

This picture is from May 26, when little Alfredo was 4.5 weeks old. As of yesterday, June 9, her beak is even worse. I haven't seen her eat chick feed or drink, but she behaves like all the other chicks. I threw some watermelon rind in the run a few days ago. She couldn't peck at it, but she waited around until one of her sisters dropped a little bite. Then she gobbled it right up. Is culling her the most compassionate thing to do?

 

[H-B-O]

@EmmaRainboe @Kiki @aart @Chookchicken @swampfox440 @RoostersAreAwesome

 

[theoldchick]

If you are unable to provide the extra help he or she needs to survive you can either cull her or find somebody who is willing to give her the extra care she needs. Not everybody wants to tend to a special-needs chickens-some people just don't have the time or the facilities and there is no shame is humanely euthanizing. How ever some people successfully keep scissor beaks chickens as pets. https://the-chicken-chick.com/scissor-beak-aka-crossed-beak-what-it/

 

[NatJ]

Is culling her the most compassionate thing to do?

If she cannot eat and drink, then it would be most compassionate to cull her rather than letting her starve to death.

You could compare her weight to the other chicks-- if she is about the same weight she is getting enough food, but if she is much lighter then she is not managing to eat enough. (You can use a scale, or just pick up one chick after another. If the weights are close enough that you cannot tell which is heavier, then she's fine.)

Sometimes crossbeak chickens can eat better when the food is served wet, in a deep dish, so they can scoop it up with their beak. That might help her get enough food, if you want to try keeping her. (Again, checking weights is a way to see if it's working-- maybe check every week or so.)

 

[aart]

If she cannot eat and drink, then it would be most compassionate to cull her rather than letting her starve to death.

Ditto Dat.

 

[swampfox440]

She may be ok to live out her life but I would not breed her. In times long past some producers used to debeak the chicks , I hated that . It was done because they wanted to stop feather picking due to over crowding . I don't know of any other reasons they might have had for this someone here probably does but the chickens would live. Not good for free ranging . Good luck with Alfredo I agree with the @theoldchick @NatJ @aart

 

[ChickenDuckQuail]

If you are unable to provide the extra help he or she needs to survive you can either cull her or find somebody who is willing to give her the extra care she needs. Not everybody wants to tend to a special-needs chickens-some people just don't have the time or the facilities and there is no shame is humanely euthanizing. How ever some people successfully keep scissor beaks chickens as pets. https://the-chicken-chick.com/scissor-beak-aka-crossed-beak-what-it/

Finding her a new home is a good idea. I'm going to look into that. Thanks for the idea!

 

[ChickenDuckQuail]

If she cannot eat and drink, then it would be most compassionate to cull her rather than letting her starve to death.

You could compare her weight to the other chicks-- if she is about the same weight she is getting enough food, but if she is much lighter then she is not managing to eat enough. (You can use a scale, or just pick up one chick after another. If the weights are close enough that you cannot tell which is heavier, then she's fine.)

Sometimes crossbeak chickens can eat better when the food is served wet, in a deep dish, so they can scoop it up with their beak. That might help her get enough food, if you want to try keeping her. (Again, checking weights is a way to see if it's working-- maybe check every week or so.)

Great idea! I'll compare her weight to her sisters' weight tonight.

 

[oldhen2345]

This picture is from May 26, when little Alfredo was 4.5 weeks old. As of yesterday, June 9, her beak is even worse. I haven't seen her eat chick feed or drink, but she behaves like all the other chicks. I threw some watermelon rind in the run a few days ago. She couldn't peck at it, but she waited around until one of her sisters dropped a little bite. Then she gobbled it right up. Is culling her the most compassionate thing to do?

I had a cross beak- I put her chick feed in yogurt and she could eat it like that- I had to segregate her for feeding. I also clipped her beak when it got so she could not eat- Lordy, I clipped the bottom too short and it bled And bled.The top was ok- I used big toenail clippers- you might want the vet to do that for you. After she was grown, she would turn her head sideways and scoop her food And was blind in that lower eye. She did try pecking around, but never pecked anything up off the ground. I always kind of spoiled her with hand held snacks she could scoop. She was very sweet but occasionally laid bloody eggs- not just a blood spot either. She lived a good life for nearly 3 yrs. and was found just this morning the victim of a predator. She was extra work- but worth it. I loved her and will miss her. So the answer is, it depends on the quality of life you think she can have.