WANTED! Stories about your Cross beaked birds! And other disabilities*

[Miyashi]

I have one and I'm looking for the best way to take care of her...
I've seen some birds here and there while browsing the forum that are full grown with beaks like hers, your stories and photos would be awesome!
I would like to see everyone show off their less than perfect birds too. Regardless of what non-chicken people or just non-animal people in general might think...they all have feelings and deserve a fair chance at life...
So, lets hear your stories! ^_^

 

[Miyashi]

Nobody has any stories? Bummer day out.

 

[lovinlife]

I have a cross-beak hen. I haven't done anything special with her and she's fine. My brother had a cross-beak hen also and she lived a fine life. I'll have to see if I can find pics of mine to post. Do you have pics of yours?

 

[storminstaffs]

I have a silver duckwing leghorn chick hatched out the 1st of april with a crossed beak, it's a cockerel though, so probably have to cull him

 

[teresa-78]

I had a crossed beak chick hatch out last year, but sadly it died due to not being able to eat, even with the attempts of me trying to feed it.. If I have one in future I will cull it, as I could not see another one go through what my little chick went through.. I still feel guilty about not being brave enough to cull it back then..

 

[fishnet1971]

I adopted a hen from the Buffalo NY SPCA last October. Her name is May. She is not cross beaked, but is handicapped in the same sort of way. This is May!

Sorry, I could just keep going on.... The only special care that I have to do for her is help her stay clean once in awhile. She has a little bit of a problem preening and stuff because her beak doesnt grab the feathers correctly. I need to also make sure her food bowl is extra deep and filled. She can not pick up shallow things in the bowl. When i throw scraps over the fence to the girls, I make sure her pieces are a little smaller so she can get them. I give her a lot of extra attention as she was abused, but other than that she gets along just fine! I do have to keep it trimmed up as well. If you have to do this to yours, by all means have TWO people! one to hold and one to cut. I have cut her on my own and did just that! I cut her. It was the more horrible thing I have done. I felt aweful. Its not hard to do at all, just hard to keep them still!

The SPCA was not sure she would make it when I adopted her. She was really skinny, scrawny and was having a hard time eating with her beak. Instead of putting her down I spent a lot of time with her too. I helped her eat at first, showed her how (now that was funny) and then she seemed to get the hang of it, ate, etc. I do still spend a ton of time with her. She is one of my flock and can hold her own, but I make sure whe gets special treats, time,etc. I am so glad I gave her a chance at life.

Good luck with your new baby. youwill do fine! Give 'em lots of luv, and they will luv ya back.

Here is her and the other rescue Elly's page on my pages.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=58585-the-two-new-girls

 

[wren]

I had a cross beaked hen named Goldie. I loved her so much. Her upper beak was straight and her lower beak stuck out at a right angle to her upper beak. She ate by scooping the food as best she could and using her tongue (which was straight). She did feed herself for a year almost. She was not with me long. I tried feeding her myself but she couldn't handle anything by mouth towards the end. I do not understand why that was. She must of had something else wrong too.

I slept with her in my arms all night and she died in the morning. She brought me lots of joy while I had her.

 

[fishnet1971]

I am sorry you lost her. that's a sad part of our care and giving them hope, but you gave her a great year I bet. hurray for that and the courage you had to take on a handicap!

 

[wren]

I'm tear-ing up just thinking about it. She is my little angel now. If I did not clean the coop well enough, sweep the corners and the walls she would let me know! So cute! Goldie also needed a deeply filled bowl like your girl. They give a ton of love.

My Dad said I should of culled her or force fed her more. She just couldn't swallow anymore. She was active and happy until the end which was short. I took the harder path and gave her a chance to enjoy life. It was harder and braver to work with her.

Fishnet, give your girl a big hug and kiss for me! My arms ache for my Goldie. And THANK YOU for your kind words!

 

[fishnet1971]

She is looking down at you from Chicken Heaven I am sure at you and clucking away at you telling you not to worry or fret. She is happy.

Gob Bless