Scissor Beak?!

[ADozenGirlz]

One of my Easter Eggers, Esther, has scissor beak. I don't remember seeing it when she was a chick, so I think it evolved at some point later on. What causes this? Injury? Heredity?
I think she manages to eat OK, but it looks to be getting worse. Is this a problem that should be treated by trimming the beak. If so, top or bottom and how often? If not, can we expect it to get worse? She's in the photo below and it's a pretty obvious condition:

 

[skyedobb]

I have no experience with this at all, but my first hunch is to say that she needs her beak trimmed to match up with its other half. I'd suggest a trip to your vet.

 

[ADozenGirlz]

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Thanks for your reply. We have actually trimmed it several times before ourselves (it's no more difficult than trimming our dog's nails) and the beaks never do "match up". I'm just wondering whether there is cause to continue to trim the beak or if it is pointless. Anyone who has experience with this condition, I'd love to hear from you too!

 

[nutso]

I had a similar situation with one of my hens. As a chick, all seemed normal. When she became a juvenile on up to when she began laying, her lower beak was longer than the top and was crooked. I noticed that she was constantly at the grain eating when the others were out grazing. She seemed healthy though.

I didn't pay any particular attention to her since she seemed to be OK. Soon, I noticed that my snaggle beak had blended in with the others who were similar in appearance. I realized that her lower beak had been sanded off to a more regular length and looks very normal. Thinking back, I noticed she was rubbing her beak on the ground a lot but I thought she was just cleaning it off - I now realize she must have been sanding it down.

So, nature took its course. Good for everyone.

 

[skyedobb]

Do you have any concrete blocks or floor or something like that where she could rub her beak and hopefully sand it down herself like the other poster talked about?

 

[ADozenGirlz]

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I do. There are two cement slabs under the coop where the girlz hang out often. They were meant to level the coop, but perhaps they'll do double-duty as a manicuring instrument!

 

[ADozenGirlz]

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Smart bird! If that's what comes naturally, perhaps it would be helpful if we trimmed her bottom beak... Thanks for sharing your story!

 

[skyedobb]

You might want to add a big cinder block to their run or coop just so she has ample opportunity to use it...Lowes sells them for like $2 if you don't have any.

 

[ADozenGirlz]

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We've got two LARGE concrete slabs that she has access to, that should do it if she is so inclined to scrape her beak on cement.

 

[skyedobb]

I just pulled out my Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens (1995 not the new one) and in the Showing section she mentions beak trimming. She has a sketch of a crossed beak which says, "A cross beak is a genetic deformity; such a bird should be culled." She then has a sketch of an overgrown beak saying, "A long upper beak may be due to lack of wear; such a beak should be trimmed."

FYI.