Need Help Please

My parents bought a variety of eggs on-line to add to their chicken yard. (These are partial free range chickens, and are allowed free run during the day in a large chicken yard. They go into their chicken house at night.)

Three pretty babies are 3 to 4 weeks old. They have feathers on their feet and look like tiny poodles.

However, one of them has a deformed beak. The bottom part of the mouth is out of alignment about 30 degrees. The poor fellow probably isn't getting enough to eat and they want to bring him inside to feed him. Is there anything that can be done to help? Can his beak be re-aligned? Is there hope?

Thanks ahead of time for your help,

April

I'm sure others will jump in--but I don't think this is hopeless. Others have reported chicks with the same deformity that did fine. You wouldn't want to use them to breed from--but I think they can learn to shovel in their food.

I agree with Cat i had a hen with a crossed beak and she did fine with no feeding problems.

Watch his weight if he is gaining weight and thriving then he is getting enough to eat and will be fine.

It is amazing how they learn to adapt to their deformity. We had a little roo with a beak that was off kilter and he ate just fine. Took him a bit to get what he wanted sometimes but he got it.

Can you post a picture?

S/he will find it easier to eat if the food is in a deep dish. Depending on the sise of the bird, a custard dish or coffee cup should help. Crossbilled birds can do just fine once they get past the first few months :)

Thanks for posting your problem! I learned more today from the authorities. It is good to hear from those who have dealt with these things before. So many of these things I have never experienced so its nice to get answers for future possible problems. Haystack

Thank you all!

Yep I have a pic; my camera battery died not too long after taking the pic so I couldn't post it last night. Charged up my battery last night late. Once DH finishes some real estate stuff, I'll upload and post the pic here.

Thanks, thanks, thanks! I called my parents and told them the good news!

April

Sorry; fell asleep. Will try to post pic tonight after work.

Okay; here is the pic of the baby w/ the cross bill.

Thank you again everyone!

And here is a pic of one of the others. Cute little things, aren't they? ^_^

Thanks again,

April

awww what a sweetie. So pretty.

So cute! Poor lil thing.. I'm sure it bothers us more than her/him.. I love white silkies!

I call those balls of fluff :)