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Chick is sleeping a lot and has 'crooked' beak

a month ago by Babalugats to c/backyardchickens

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I seem to be the only one starting threads here.. but it's the only place I know where i can post 😁

One of my chicks has the bottom half of its beak sticking out to the left. It also sleeps a lot, but I wasn't really sure it was the same chick until their colours started to come in. the crooked beak is only really starting to show now.

Three other chicks in the brooding cage play and run around a lot, but usually this one is sleeping, it also doesn't seem to play with them anyway.

Don't have a great picture, this is the best one I have.

Should I be worried (I am)?

Is there anything I can do for it?

https://i.postimg.cc/...

EDIT.

I have added two videos replying to this post showing the chick drinking and sleeping while the others are wide awake.

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excess0680 5 points a month ago

Sounds like cross beak. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossed_beak

It’s an environmental/genetic disorder. I do not believe there’s a cure.

It isn’t fatal but the chick may fail to thrive due to difficulty eating. You may need to create a special diet just for this chick. For example, I’ve read and seen someone make a mash (like oatmeal but with starter chick feed) just for their cross beaked birds. You’ll need to separate the chick to make sure it can eat. Even then, it may not thrive.

I’ve read the perspective of some chicken owners who had chickens with cross beak. It’s pretty rough, unfortunately. Please be prepared for its sudden passing.

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Babalugats 3 points a month ago

Oh.. thanks for that. I checked on them first thing this morning, and I have already noticed that this one is having trouble eating. it was the only one at the food today, and was at it for over 20 minutes yesterday.

It also doesn't seem to have great balance. It's not always obvious, but if I watch her, I can see her lose balance sometimes.

I have a couple of videos I will try to upload somehow to link to here.

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Babalugats 3 points a month ago

Here is a video of the chick with the crooked beak drinking water (the chick that comes up beside it is from the same clutch, same age etc.)

https://streamff.com/v/80d051c5

This is two of the chicks playing/fighting ? 🤷‍♂️ The chick with the crooked beak is in the back right corner sleeping.

https://streamff.com/v/e98d9699

I was wondering if the two fighting could be cockerels?

I have other videos I'll try to upload of the chick with the crooked beak, walking, where she seems slightly unbalanced.

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excess0680 3 points a month ago

Yes, the chick will do what it can to live. Best to keep an eye on it. The balance issues could be from malnutrition from not being able to eat effectively.

I wouldn’t worry about the fights between the chicks. Although they could be male, in my experience, this fighting continues until early adulthood as they begin to form the pecking order. The earliest signs to confirm a chick being a cockerel will be the comb and wattles. They’ll continue to develop from early adolescence until adulthood, well past when pullets finish comb and wattle development.

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