Silkie chick with deformed beak

[larsonll]

I raised 10 chicks and 3 had beak deformities. I worried about them incessantly, even thought they all ate and grew just fine. When they were older and put into a small coop, their beaks got even worse. Still, they grew fine.

I moved them into an even larger coop and put cinder blocks into the coop to raise waterers and feeders for Oyster Shell and grit. I watched the girls with mis-shappen beaks groom their beaks on the cinder blocks and voila! Over a year later, their beaks are still a bit crossed but completely functional.

Don't worry so much when they are young but still growing appropriately and give them something to grind their breaks on later. Worked for me!

 

[litmisredneck]

I have a cross beak roo. He is a bit smaller than the rest of the chickens his age, approx 10-11 months old. He drinks fine, free ranges pretty good, and at night when i get them scratch, i put some in a bowl for him to eat out of. With scratch on the ground, for some reason he pecks at it, but never gets any in his beak. But with it in a bowl, he seems to get a good bit.

 

[dmbdawnw]

We have a black silkie like that from a breeder, they grow normally, eat normally, and drink normally. The only other thing you really have to do to help him his keep his beak trimmed with a machine called Bio-Trim, but its not necessary. Mine seems to be healthy and growing fine. Hes about 4 months old now.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Ha ha, Love the name 'Smirks'.  Does she do alright without special food and attention? 
Now, why doesn't some orthodontist take on braces for chickens? LOL
I took your advice, though, and sent the photo to the hatchery.  You're right, they should be aware if there is a defect in their population.
Thanks!

 

Sorry I never came back and replied to this. Smirks is STILL doing great. She lives with my SIL now, but has turned out to be a great little layer and surrogate momma to her other chickens eggs.

Did you hear back from the hatchery? I'm curious to know whether they intended to fix it or if they never replied (which would lead me to believe they just don't care). How is your chick (which at this point probably isn't much of a chick anymore)?