Scissor beak

[MilesFluffybutt]

@frontyard chickens @KYchickengirl326 Just checking in to see how all your feathered friends are doing.

 

[frontyard chickens]

@frontyard chickens @KYchickengirl326 Just checking in to see how all your feathered friends are doing.

hey friend!
i picked up this nice little “tease brush” from dollar tree and lightly brushed it over his neck feathers and it worked really well! it gently took off the looser sheaths toward the tip of the feathers. i’ll do it in a week or two as well to upkeep. i love my chickens so much but my special needs one & i have spent so much time together i can’t help but have the softest spot for him.

 

[frontyard chickens]

@frontyard chickens @KYchickengirl326 Just checking in to see how all your feathered friends are doing.

How are you and your flock doing??

 

[Faithjo]

@frontyard chickens hey! I was wondering how your little cross beak is doing now? Also did it progress a lot as the chick grew? I have a baby chick that has it and I’m trying to take care of her best I can.

 

[MilesFluffybutt]

@frontyard chickens hey! I was wondering how your little cross beak is doing now? Also did it progress a lot as the chick grew? I have a baby chick that has it and I’m trying to take care of her best I can.

Can you post photos of you CB chick?

 

[Faithjo]

Can you post photos of you CB chick?

 

[MilesFluffybutt]

CB is a deformity of the skull. There's nothing you can do to correct. The beak will continue to shift until the chick's bones are set - around 6 month or so. With minor considerations, most CB's can live a full life.

Right now, I'd start teaching it to eat mash. I started my CB on mash early and despite how bad his deformity is, he can eat on his own. Not as efficiently as I'd like, so I supplement with syringe feedings.

 

[Faithjo]

CB is a deformity of the skull. There's nothing you can do to correct. The beak will continue to shift until the chick's bones are set - around 6 month or so. With minor considerations, most CB's can live a full life.

Right now, I'd start teaching it to eat mash. I started my CB on mash early and despite how bad his deformity is, he can eat on his own. Not as efficiently as I'd like, so I supplement with syringe feedings.

Thanks, I do give her soaked food some of the time but she also seems to be eating dry as of right now. They all seem to like the soaked food pretty well when I put it in their box, she still is acting good as of right now. I’ve been holding her beak in alignment some everyday, I hope somehow it may help or maybe she won’t progress much more. I’m praying that’s the case anyways. I also bought a bowl to put feed in for them besides their feeder, I think she will be able to eat out of it easier maybe

 

[NewChickMammaJamma23]

In addition to what @JustBabyMargo said, you will need to assist with preening, especially during a molt. The worse the beak is, the more you will need to help break up those sheaths.

CB is a skull deformity - there is no fix for it. The beak will continue to change up until the chick hits roughly six months when its bones are set.

It can be caused by genetics, trauma or poor position within the egg. Silkies, Easter Eggers, and Polish has a high rate of the CB. Since your is a Silkie, it's likely genetic. It is not recommended that you hatch eggs from a chicken with CB.

Regarding feeding, mash out of a deep bowl is great. You may need to play around with the thickness of the mash. My guy preferred an oatmeal at first and then as his CB progressed, he liked it soupier. Now, I do syringe feedings twice a day with a special food. It makes me feel better knowing he gets enough. I recommend checking their crop daily - make sure there's food it in. If you can do weekly weigh-ins, that's great.

Do reach out if you need help. I am always happy to chat with/assist other CB keepers.

I am a Chick Mom to a 9 week old Americauna who has a SEVERE condition of crossbeak

In addition to what @JustBabyMargo said, you will need to assist with preening, especially during a molt. The worse the beak is, the more you will need to help break up those sheaths.

CB is a skull deformity - there is no fix for it. The beak will continue to change up until the chick hits roughly six months when its bones are set.

It can be caused by genetics, trauma or poor position within the egg. Silkies, Easter Eggers, and Polish has a high rate of the CB. Since your is a Silkie, it's likely genetic. It is not recommended that you hatch eggs from a chicken with CB.

Regarding feeding, mash out of a deep bowl is great. You may need to play around with the thickness of the mash. My guy preferred an oatmeal at first and then as his CB progressed, he liked it soupier. Now, I do syringe feedings twice a day with a special food. It makes me feel better knowing he gets enough. I recommend checking their crop daily - make sure there's food it in. If you can do weekly weigh-ins, that's great.

Do reach out if you need help. I am always happy to chat with/assist other CB keepers.

- Syringe Feeding Advice -

I am a Chick Mom to a 9 week old Americauna who has a SEVERE condition of cross beak. Like super super criss cross applesauce (that's her nickname), east/west action. I am wanting to do everything I can to nurture her and encourage her to thrive.

She is the absolute sweetest & all the others in the flock seem to always be very kind and nurturing with her and have literally taken her under their wings!! They allow her to nestle and get cozy under their feather wings and snuggle right up under them. She has NEVER been picked on or bullied and that is another reason I want to do my best to provide the best care for her.

I am curious about your method and mixture/component you provide in your syringe feedings. Please please fill me in. I want to do everything to help her gain some weight and be comfortable and content with a full tummy. She currently is at the "feed bar" all day trying to get some calories in. I have done the watered down deep bowl feed method so far and she goes to town - BUT I find it's still difficult for her to consume much. It takes her a LONG time to make any progress on the quantity I set out. I think, at this point, the next step is to try syringe feedings. She is so tiny!!!!

Please help!! TIA.

 

[MilesFluffybutt]

I am a Chick Mom to a 9 week old Americauna who has a SEVERE condition of crossbeak

- Syringe Feeding Advice -

I am a Chick Mom to a 9 week old Americauna who has a SEVERE condition of cross beak. Like super super criss cross applesauce (that's her nickname), east/west action. I am wanting to do everything I can to nurture her and encourage her to thrive.

She is the absolute sweetest & all the others in the flock seem to always be very kind and nurturing with her and have literally taken her under their wings!! They allow her to nestle and get cozy under their feather wings and snuggle right up under them. She has NEVER been picked on or bullied and that is another reason I want to do my best to provide the best care for her.

I am curious about your method and mixture/component you provide in your syringe feedings. Please please fill me in. I want to do everything to help her gain some weight and be comfortable and content with a full tummy. She currently is at the "feed bar" all day trying to get some calories in. I have done the watered down deep bowl feed method so far and she goes to town - BUT I find it's still difficult for her to consume much. It takes her a LONG time to make any progress on the quantity I set out. I think, at this point, the next step is to try syringe feedings. She is so tiny!!!!

Please help!! TIA.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE that you are dedicated to the care of you CB hen, Applesauce. If you could post a photo of your sweet girl, that'd be great. My EE roo has a really bad case as well.

Since your girl is so young, I'd try the torpedo method. You grind up some feed, mix with an egg, roll some tiny tiny torpedoes, and let them harden in the fridge. Pop them into her mouth and let her work them down. However, if her tongue has collapse, I'd steer clear of this method. My guy couldn't make it work because his tongue is in his throat.

Honestly, syringe method isn't terribly safe. The risk of aspiration is high and it is down right scary when it happens. You should look into and strongly consider tube feeding. It's a safer method and a good skill to learn for when you have sick chickens.

My roo gets a custom feed called 'Avian Health Shake.' It's expensive, but worth the investment since it has helped him gain weight. It blends really nicely for tube/syringe feedings and makes a mean torpedo.

It's great that she's at the feed bar. Even if she only gets a little, it's important that she remembers how to feed herself that way she can get a snack between meals, if you're running late, etc. Hawke gets fed twice a day - mid-morning, early evening. You'll learn how much she needs and when. And all of that will change as she grows older. And definately keep an eye on her crop - make sure it's full and heavy, not light and airy. Gentle crop massages work to get the air out.

If you have FB, there's a lovely little special needs group that has helped me tremendously. The admins are also the women I purchase the shake from. I just learned about this one today, but haven't joined. It seems specifically for feeding.