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<\/p>\nScissor beak in chickens is a life-threatening condition occurring in chicks and pullets. Learn more to prevent, treat and help your chicks survive and thrive through this congenital deformity.<\/p>\n
Scissor beak (often referred to as cross beak) is a congenital deformity in which the upper and bottom beaks grow in two directions, giving the appearance of an open pair of scissors.<\/p>\n
This deformity makes it difficult for the chicken to pick up food, and in severe cases, if left untreated, it can lead to death. While not all chickens with scissor beaks survive, experts are finding ways to improve their longevity and quality of life.<\/p>\n
Several factors can cause scissor beak, including poor nutrition, genetics, inappropriate heating and humidity levels during incubation, and malposition in the egg.<\/p>\n
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Poor nutrition can cause scissor beaks to develop. Feeding chicks quality, age-appropriate feed is the best way to prevent poor nutrition.<\/p>\n
Prevention:<\/strong>\u00a0Supplementing chicks\u2019 diet with probiotics and vitamins (added to their water) will help ensure they have everything they need to develop a healthy beak.<\/p>\n Breeding individuals with a scissor beak.<\/p>\n Prevention:<\/strong>\u00a0Never breed a chicken with a scissor beak, even if the beak is only slightly deformed. Scissor beak is hereditary, so breeding stock with this condition should be culled.<\/p>\n Inappropriate heat and humidity levels may increase the risk of chicks developing scissor beak.<\/p>\n Prevention:<\/strong>\u00a0When hatching eggs, ensure the incubator temperature stays steady at 100.5\u00b0F and humidity levels are between 50 and 55 percent.<\/p>\n Sometimes, a chick\u2019s head will not be positioned correctly in the egg, causing a malformed skull.<\/p>\n Prevention:<\/strong>\u00a0None<\/p>\n Scissor beaks appear in chicks between one and two weeks of age, but in some cases, the condition may not be seen until four weeks old. If caused by poor genetics, this condition may be visible at hatching.<\/p>\n Curving or bending of the beak. The severity of the condition depends on how severely the beak is curved.<\/p>\n If one or more of your chicks have a scissor beak, treatment should begin immediately. Taking your chick to the vet is the best way to start the treatment process, as your veterinarian can evaluate the severity of the condition and prescribe the appropriate treatment.<\/p>\n Euthanasia:<\/strong>\u00a0Sadly, some chicks with a scissor beak are severely deformed, making it impossible to consume food and water. Without these essential nutrients, chicks quickly become weak and die. By humanely euthanizing severely deformed chicks, you can prevent any unnecessary suffering.<\/p>\n Beak Trimming:<\/strong> One of the best ways to help a chicken with a scissor beak is to trim it. This will not correct the condition. Rather, it will help to keep the bird’s beak trimmed to a manageable length since their beaks do not receive normal wear. Regularly trimming of the beak helps increase the chance of a chick’s ability to eat and drink. Your veterinarian can trim the beak and set up a beak-trimming routine to keep your chick\u2019s beak in working order. Trimming a scissor beak is extremely difficult and should only be trimmed by a qualified vet.<\/p>\n Beak Therapy:<\/strong>\u00a0Beak therapy is a common veterinarian-prescribed scissor beak treatment. It involves gently aligning the top beak with the bottom and holding it in place for ten minutes two to three times a day. While this treatment plan will not likely cure the deformity, it usually helps prevent it from becoming more deformed and making the condition less severe. Continue beak therapy daily until your vet instructs otherwise.<\/p>\n Weight Check:<\/strong>\u00a0Chicks with a scissor beak need routine weight checks throughout their lives to ensure they get enough food to maintain a healthy weight.<\/p>\n A chicken with a scissor beak needs lifelong care. Routine beak trims, regular weight checks and tube feeding to ensure the chicken has enough nutrients.<\/p>\n Tube feeding should be done by a qualified veterinarian or a member of the vet office staff, as it can become deadly if the tube is not placed correctly down the chicken\u2019s throat.\u00a0If you desire to tube feed your chicken, ask your vet to show you how to do it correctly.<\/p>\n Another option is to moisten the feed to form a mash. The mash is often easier for a chicken with a scissor beak to pick up than dry crumble or pellets. Mix the mash right before feeding chickens, as it becomes rancid quickly. Be sure to allow plenty of feeding time, as scissored-beaked chickens eat slower than other flock members. Treats must also be cut into small, easy-to-pick-up pieces for them to enjoy.<\/p>\n Whatever feeding option you choose, chickens with scissor beaks need their weight monitored by a qualified veterinarian.<\/p>\n A chicken with a scissor beak needs routine bathing to keep its feathers free of parasites and help feathers stay clean and shiny. To do this, use a couple of drops of mild, unscented baby shampoo in a pan of warm water and gently splash the water over the hen\u2019s body, carefully avoiding getting water on her head or in her eyes or nostrils. Gently towel dry the chicken before using a blow dryer on her. Keep the blow dryer on a cool setting to avoid burning the chicken\u2019s skin.<\/p>\n Move bathtime into the basement or garage during the colder months to avoid chilling the hen.<\/p>\n A scissor beak in chickens requires daily cleaning with a Q-tip moistened with water. Gently clean out any dirt or feed with the Q-tip.<\/p>\n Some flock members may bully a chicken with a scissor beak, while others behave more kindly.\u00a0 Not all chickens with a scissor beak are bullied, so keep a close eye on your flock to ensure no one is bullied.\u00a0 Remove the chicken from the flock and give her a separate living space if you notice any bullying.<\/p>\n While all breeds can have a scissor beak,\u00a0 Ameraucanas, Easter Eggers, and Orpingtons are more prone to this deformity.<\/p>\n Caring for scissor beak in chickens may not be for the faint of heart, but the rewards of watching your handicapped hen enjoying a happy chicken life make the efforts worthwhile.<\/p>\nCause: Genetics<\/h4>\n
Cause: Inappropriate Heat and Humidity<\/h4>\n
Cause: Malposition in Egg<\/h4>\n
What Age Does Scissor Beak in Chickens Occur?<\/h2>\n
Symptoms<\/h4>\n
Treatment<\/h4>\n
Vet-Prescribed Chick Care<\/h2>\n
Vet-Prescribed Lifelong Care<\/h2>\n
Feeding Tube Alternatives<\/h2>\n
Keep Them Clean<\/h2>\n
Separate Housing<\/h2>\n
Breeds to Avoid<\/h2>\n