Chicks with Disabilities. What Now?

It’s been a long but short road raising baby chicks. It was a little challenging. One of our chicks, Latte, turned out to be a crossbeak. Crossbeak, or scissor beak, is a skull deformity. It can occur from inconsistency in the incubator, an injury (which isn’t too common), or a genetic gene. Some chickens have only a slight cross and function very well. Others have a 90 degree turn and require aid when feeding. And still others fall somewhere in between. Each case is unique as each bird is different. Their personalities are different and so they take it differently. I read so many cases where the chick also has failure to thrive or no will to live. Not the case with Latte. Latte has about a 45 degree turn. In the beginning I made her food a wet mash (think cookie dough consistency) and she struggled. Her crop never got full, and she would seem really needy. Until I got the consistency right for her. Not too soupy, but not too dry. And that was it! Full crop from then on! To say it was a learning curve was an understatement. She was only a few ounces behind everyone else which was a feat on its own. And she is top dog or chicken of her flock of six hens. The brooder however was a mess. They would kick the food out of the bowl which went to wet food on the floor and in turn, fermenting of the feed. Boy was that stinky! Finally at 8 weeks they went outside. Each new stage was a learning curve for them. A new place to eat, a new place to sleep, etc. but they loved being outside. They would run and play with each other. Now they are 22 weeks old!! And laying eggs like crazy. Even Latte! I know of many crossbeaks who lay one egg every 6 months to a year or so. Or never lay at all. Again not Latte! She has really beaten so many odds stacked against her.

If you have any questions about Crossbeak chickens or questions in general about chickens feel free to send us an email! Or follow us on social media and send us a DM