[em.a]

Hi all
We have a 6 week old Aracauna chick whose bottom half of his beak is at about a 60 degree angle to his top half (the normal one).  Although she seems to be eating she does seem to eat for a lot longer than her mate a 6 week old Jersey Giant.  They are currently on growers pellets and she seems to be coping with them at the moment.  

I was wondering whether anyone had dealt with this before and whether there could be problems in the future with eating especially as she grows bigger.  She is a lovely little thing and we do not want to dispatch her as some people have suggested to me as she is not perfect!!!!!  (She is perfect to us - if not a little strange looking)

Any advice, tips or similar stories would be appreciated.

Em
   

[peggyprice]

Hi Em - do you have a picture you can show us?

[upthetump]

One of my dirds has the same problem. I posted this here a few months ago. She was 16 weeks when this was taken about 10 weeks ago. Shes eating, drinking and layine fin and shes healthy. Yours should be fine 2. good luck

[em.a]

Hi Em - do you have a picture you can show us?

I will try and get one if I can get her to sit still for more than a second, she is a bit flighty and manic but at least she must be eating to get the energy.  

[em.a]

One of my dirds has the same problem. I posted this here a few months ago. She was 16 weeks when this was taken about 10 weeks ago. Shes eating, drinking and layine fin and shes healthy. Yours should be fine 2. good luck

Thanks for that, I am like a nervous new mum, even though had chickens for 4 years now, I have never had to deal with anything like this before.  Your chick looks as if she is really fit and healthy, can she eat anything or do you need to cut any treats up, such as cabbage leaves etc, as I notice that she does have trouble grasping hold of things with her beak.  
Thanks
Em

[muntjac]

let her be she sill adapt and even if she does take her time eating she is eating thats the important bit

[upthetump]

Hi Em, Munty's right. My bird may be a little slower eating but she's doing ok. She doesn't seem to miss out on any greens or layers pellets or anything. In fact shes getting a bit smarter than the others 'cos if a leaf is too big for her, shell wait for the others to break it down and then pinch the smaller bits. I'll try to load a new pic so that you can see her now. All the best (and stop worrying)