Cross beak too severe for survival?

[coffeeaddict]

This chick is about 3 weeks old. The cross beak has progressively been getting worse and now appears quite severe. Hatched from local hatching eggs. My question is can this one survive? We definitely would never breed it. Can't have roosters anyway. I don't have the capacity to hand feed a chicken daily either. My son is very attached to this specific chick "Neddy." Trying to get him mentally prepared to the idea of us having to cull her or him. Thoughts?

 

[CaliforniaMountainChicks]

There are many cross beaks that can eat on their own if they’re given a deep bowl to eat out of! Is the chick still eating on its own? You can try the deep bowl now and see how that works out.

 

[coffeeaddict]

There are many cross beaks that can eat on their own if they’re given a deep bowl to eat out of! Is the chick still eating on its own? You can try the deep bowl now and see how that works out.

She does seem to be eating and drinking just fine. It seems to be getting worse though so I'm wondering how long she will be able to do so.

 

[Shabby Chic-Hens]

If it gets any worse, you might have a special needs pet.
@Lacy Duckwing has a chicken like that. Maybe she could give you tips!

 

[coffeeaddict]

If it gets any worse, you might have a special needs pet.
@Lacy Duckwing has a chicken like that. Maybe she could give you tips!

As much as I love animals, I'm not able to care for a special needs chicken so unfortunately we would cull her/him in that case. We've had our share of special needs dogs, cats and I don't want to head down that road again.

 

[CaliforniaMountainChicks]

She does seem to be eating and drinking just fine. It seems to be getting worse though so I'm wondering how long she will be able to do so.

You never really can tell how bad it’ll get as they get older, it can stay as it is now or it can progress more. I’ve seen some chickens with pretty bad cross beak (way worse than your chick) that can eat on their own if they are given a mash (watered down feed made into an oatmeal consistency with water). Yours can end up with mild cross beak like she has now and be able to eat regular dry feed and live a perfectly healthy life. Some cross beaks may need an occasional beak filing if they can’t file it on their own.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

If it stays that way, it should be okay, but it will likely not do much more than survive

 

[3KillerBs]

I kept a crossbeak that seemed to be able to eat and drink out of the deeper feeder provided and seemed to go to bed with a full crop. He was noticably smaller than his hatchmates, but I let him stay with his brothers until harvest based on that apparent full crop at roosting time but when I got him plucked I realized that he was not just undersized ;he was condition 1 emaciated.

The poor thing had suffered slow starvation all that time that I'd thought he was eating OK.

 

[coffeeaddict]

I kept a crossbeak that seemed to be able to eat and drink out of the deeper feeder provided and seemed to go to bed with a full crop. He was noticably smaller than his hatchmates, but I let him stay with his brothers until harvest based on that apparent full crop at roosting time but when I got him plucked I realized that he was not just undersized ;he was condition 1 emaciated.

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The poor thing had suffered slow starvation all that time that I'd thought he was eating OK.

I’m so sorry. I’ll be sure to keep a close eye. Thank you for this chart. My husband thinks he can gently cull her/him with dry ice. So if worse comes to worse we’ll go that route. Hopefully it will be able to live a decent chicken life though. I’ll be sure to provide a deep bowl for feed.

 

[coffeeaddict]

Do you guys know when I should start gently trimming the beak to help them align better? Once it’s full grown?