SEVERE BIRTH DEFECTS. Graphic Pics.

[Redcatcher]

Polish chicks hatch with a big knob on the top of their head. This is actually their brains bulging out from a hole in their skull. Some Silkies have this too. I'm not convinced that all cross beaks are genetic. From what I've seen it's from a malpositioned embryo or one that becomes partially stuck to the vitelline early on in incubation. In this case it was the top of the head and the hole in the skull didn't help it much.

 

[suzeqf]

cool pics nature is strange and amazing

 

[MEchickenfarmer33]

thats strange poor thing

glad he didnt have to suffer

 

[itsy]

Quote:
So then what happens? The skull grows to cover the hole?

 

[Evelle]

that was so wierd!! thank you so much for sharing!! i love learning all sorts of things.. I mean WOW!! life and the beginings of it is just magic isnt it, and when it goes wrong its wonderful tring to figure out how it happened or why. LOVE IT!! poor little thing. it would have been awsome if it survived. i had a neace that survived 6 months with only a brain stem and no other parts of her brain.

 

[Redcatcher]

Quote:
So then what happens? The skull grows to cover the hole?

No, Polish and Silkies live their entire lives with their brains exposed. All that's protecting them is a layer of skin. It's what gives them the desirable knobs on the tops of their heads. It doesn't take much to knock them out or kill them though it seems to be rare that it happens.

 

[itsy]

Quote:
So then what happens? The skull grows to cover the hole?

No, Polish and Silkies live their entire lives with their brains exposed. All that's protecting them is a layer of skin. It's what gives them the desirable knobs on the tops of their heads. It doesn't take much to knock them out or kill them though it seems to be rare that it happens.

No way - you're just foolin' with me. Shoot. If that's true - I won't be able to mention that to the bf. He wouldn't allow double tailed goldfish in the house because the idea of that mutation bothered him. Now if I tell him that my polish chicks have exposed brains - well there it all goes!

 

[nurse_turtle]

Quote:
No, Polish and Silkies live their entire lives with their brains exposed. All that's protecting them is a layer of skin. It's what gives them the desirable knobs on the tops of their heads. It doesn't take much to knock them out or kill them though it seems to be rare that it happens.

No way - you're just foolin' with me. Shoot. If that's true - I won't be able to mention that to the bf. He wouldn't allow double tailed goldfish in the house because the idea of that mutation bothered him. Now if I tell him that my polish chicks have exposed brains - well there it all goes!

Oh good lord!

 

[LittleDarlings]

Oh my goodness!! The poor little thing.

I realize nature isn't always beautiful or fair, but it is still sometimes hard to see in person. Thanks you for thinking of others and sharing the pictures.

 

[Redcatcher]

Quote:
No, Polish and Silkies live their entire lives with their brains exposed. All that's protecting them is a layer of skin. It's what gives them the desirable knobs on the tops of their heads. It doesn't take much to knock them out or kill them though it seems to be rare that it happens.

No way - you're just foolin' with me. Shoot. If that's true - I won't be able to mention that to the bf. He wouldn't allow double tailed goldfish in the house because the idea of that mutation bothered him. Now if I tell him that my polish chicks have exposed brains - well there it all goes!

He doesn't have to know