Unaligned beak and white on comb.

[prin23]

10 week old TSC EE, his beak has always been like this. He does well eating from a deep dish but has trouble when trying to eat a mealworm or anything else off a flat surface.

Just these past two days his comb has been starting to turn white. Could this be a nutrient deficiency? Or? His weight is good. They are on Purina non-medicated chick starter/grower (I’m very happy to change this if y’all have suggestions) and they get treats (mealworms, grit, and fresh fruits & veggies) and whatever bugs he’s able to get when they get their time out of the coop.

I am hoping to find him a new home as we were not planning on having a rooster. He was from the pullet bin. But I want to be sure he’s healthy and this isn’t something I need to worry too much about. Any vitamins/supplements I can add?

No mites/lice that I can see, all three others have normal colored combs.
Thank you!

 

[coach723]

It looks more like his beak is a little overgrown. I would try to trim a little off both the top and the bottom, just the tips, to see if you can make it close better. If you have large concrete blocks, pavers, big rocks, bricks, etc. they often hone it themselves (you often see them wiping it that way after eating or drinking), but some birds may need additional help occasionally. You can use a file or dremel type tool (if the noise doesn't freak him out). Just take a very small amount at a time, so that you don't cut into the quick, which would be painful. Otherwise it doesn't hurt at all. If he still has trouble, then deeper open dishes raised up a little off the ground level, and making the feed into a thick mash by mixing with water can help. The feed you are using is fine. The comb may just be hormonal fluctuations as he's maturing.

 

[prin23]

It looks more like his beak is a little overgrown. I would try to trim a little off both the top and the bottom, just the tips, to see if you can make it close better. If you have large concrete blocks, pavers, big rocks, bricks, etc. they often hone it themselves (you often see them wiping it that way after eating or drinking), but some birds may need additional help occasionally. You can use a file or dremel type tool (if the noise doesn't freak him out). Just take a very small amount at a time, so that you don't cut into the quick, which would be painful. Otherwise it doesn't hurt at all. If he still has trouble, then deeper open dishes raised up a little off the ground level, and making the feed into a thick mash by mixing with water can help. The feed you are using is fine. The comb may just be hormonal fluctuations as he's maturing.

Thank you! I had a pet pigeon years ago with scissor beak and I had to trim/file her beak pretty often. It hadn’t crossed my mind for some reason to do that with him but I will try and see if it helps

There has always been a gap, here’s a picture from the day we got him, and again when he was a little older.

I do have some pavers in their coop. He wipes his beak on me a lot

Also thank you on the mash idea, I’ll try that as well.