Cross Beak, The Polish

Cross Beak or Scissor Beak

This is my Cross Beak Polish Chick.

The upper beak has begun to grow faster than the other chicks.

I noticed the cross last week as I was going to through the flock to see how everyone was doing. I did not know what it was until I did some research on it. It is a condition that is believed to be hereditary and/or poor development in the incubator. The theory is that the chick's wing may may have covered it's head during incubation and proper development was stifled. The actual skull has a deformity and it will continue to get worse and worse.

 The options for a cross beak depend on the severity. Some more experienced chicken people recommend culling the chick. I am nowhere near culling a baby chick. The next, and more do-able option for myself is filing down the beak periodically. This is only an option for mild to moderate cases. The last option, which is not a life for a chicken or a person for that matter, it a feeding tube. You must feed the chicken daily through a feeding tube. For myself, I would have the chicken "put to sleep."

The next problem, aside from food, is parasites. Chickens, like all birds, preen or clean themselves, to rid themselves of parasites. The next dilemma is washing your bird periodically to ensure  that they are not overrun with these parasites.

I will continue to post on the life and progress of cross beak.

( I have been thinking of a name for it as well, the sex is unknown at the moment. )