[Caralou]

My little black crested Poland Blackie who is now about 13/14 weeks old has developed a very deformed beak which has got worse over the past week or so. His top beak is straight, but the bootom juts out to the left so there is a big gap. He eats fine, drinks fine, is affectionate and playful and herds his Pudd (female white crested from same batch) around the garden (she's very little and he is fiercely protective of her).

I need some advice on what to do. A lot of advice on this seems to be to cull, but he is happy and otherwise healthy, not going to be used for breeding and Pudd would be lost without him as they can't be parted even for five minutes without squarking so really don't want to have to do that. Is there any way of correcting the overbite or do I just leave it to see how it develops? He didn't have it when a little chick and I can't think of anything that would have caused such a dramatic overlap.

Cara

[Bruced]

Poor thing! Any chance it can be clipped back a little to correct the misalignment? Not a lot of practical help to offer I'm afraid but I hope you get it sorted!

[woodside farm]

As Bruced said, you can have it clipped, but you will probably have to do it regular, as I would think it is likely to keep growing.
I have never had this with chickens, but I have with aviary birds, and it is very effective.
You would be best to learn how to do it yourself, to save on the vet bills, it is not difficult.

Michelle

[Caralou]

Thanks guys, I thought there may be a way to clip, but wasn't sure with it being the lower half. I'll give my vet a call and see if she'll show me how to do it (they are really good vets, and although not poultry specialists always try to help and will contact poultry vets for advice). I just hope he's okay with it, I'm very attached to him, he sits on my friends shoulder while he walks round the garden parrot style and is the most affectionate of all the birds - typical  .

Although he is eating I've tried today to mix in crumb with his growers and he has delved in with more gusto than usual so I think I'll get some mash and mix that for him with growers so I know he is eating plenty (the girls also tried to tuck into the growers crumb mix, cheeky lazy blighters!

[Jane-M]

I have a hen with a crossed bill. She eats and drinks fine and is a good layer. I'd not breed from her as I have no idea what has caused the deformity, but she's a great bird.

[poppies]

Hi agree with the others as long as it's not affecting his quality of life why cull him. if you decide to trim the beak yourself just trim a little at a time or it will bleed

[Hensington]

See a lot of this with hybrid layers it usually settles down in time.
You can use a dremel with sanding atatchment to take it down a bit.

[woodside farm]

If you do trim too much and it bleeds, put flour (plain or self raising) on it, works a treat.

Michelle

[too many girls]

See a lot of this with hybrid layers it usually settles down in time.
You can use a dremel with sanding atatchment to take it down a bit.

you are seriously going to let Cara loose with a sander? near a chicken?

oh yey the god's.................................

[woodside farm]

Large nail clippers will do the job, or the ones you use to cut dogs nails.

[Caralou]

See a lot of this with hybrid layers it usually settles down in time.
You can use a dremel with sanding atatchment to take it down a bit.

you are seriously going to let Cara loose with a sander? near a chicken?

oh yey the god's.................................

I agree  Poor Blackie would never make it! He's had a very nice day in the garden gorging himself on worms so can't be too bad. TMG, you're lucky with the ones I brought up to you, I kept the weaklings for myself, always a sucker for the runts