Twisted beak and missing eye...is it hopeless?

[Chrischik]

One of my black Coturnix quail hatched with a twisted beak (like a grosbeak bird), and missing her left eye It's been 2 days now in the incubator, its running around and vocal like crazy! I've been using a dropper to give magic water, but haven't sen it try to peck food yet. The energy level.of this bird is so high! Do we think it has a chance at a decent life, if it learns to drink on its own? I hesitate putting it in with the other chicks. Help!!

 

[CoopBoots]

Honestly, I'd try it out and see how it goes myself.

Maybe you could borrow one of the calmer chicks and test out how they interact. It certainly might help to see if this baby can learn to eat and drink somewhat by watching a sibling, so I'd provide food and water for the healthy baby to demonstrate. As I understand it, they are social like chickens and it will probably be happiest with a playmate as well, provided they are nice to one another.

If it doesn't get bullied, you could try it out with the larger group, perhaps? I don't know how aggressive quail can be with weaker or malformed chicks, but I've been able to keep chickens with special needs in my flock with no unusual bullying.

 

[Chrischik]

Honestly, I'd try it out and see how it goes myself.

Maybe you could borrow one of the calmer chicks and test out how they interact. It certainly might help to see if this baby can learn to eat and drink somewhat by watching a sibling, so I'd provide food and water for the healthy baby to demonstrate. As I understand it, they are social like chickens and it will probably be happiest with a playmate as well, provided they are nice to one another.

If it doesn't get bullied, you could try it out with the larger group, perhaps? I don't know how aggressive quail can be with weaker or malformed chicks, but I've been able to keep chickens with special needs in my flock with no unusual bullying.

Thank you, I appreciate this! I was thinking along those lines, it seems to be bored and for sure the other quail have "taught" the new hatches on food and water. Going to give it till end of today and then add to general pop when Im able to watch! I'll update on results!

 

[Debbie292d]

I can't really tell from the photo, but when you say "twisted beak" I presume that's cross beak.

We have one chicken that is. She eats normally with the rest of them now via a 5-gallon bucket with PVC portals, and learned to find a way to drink from the 5-gallon nipple bucket. But in the beginning, we just got deep bowls for her crumbles and made it into a mash with water.

We bought an electric fingernail file (dremel) and every few months, file down her top beak the most, and a little on the bottom. Then they match up better and make eating/drinking easier for her.

Here's an old but pretty good article about them. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...kens-including-tube-feeding-techniques.64321/

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I don’t know anything about quail or crossbeak but my mom had a one-eyed chicken that did just fine so don’t let that deter you.

 

[User690263]

I'd say that since she seems to be doing ok right now, I'd wait it out to see how she does.
Of course, if she starts to go downhill, then the last act of kindness would be the best thing to do.