okay, so I was cleaning Archimedes's beak and chest this morning (because he's still a really messy eater) and I noticed what look like swollen areas either side of his beak near where they join the skin. I noticed there was some food stuck there and a tiny bit in the top of his beak as well. It would have only been there a day because I'm pretty vigilant about keeping his beak clean. After reading up on possible causes I'm afraid it may be a deformity of some kind... Could it happen this quickly? The top part of the beak still closes over the bottom but there does seem to be a tiny gap where the beak closes. The 'swellings' are a bit pink but now that I've removed the food they seem to be returning to normal.

Here are some photos, not sure if they're good enough though. (NB. He looks so bedraggled because I've just given him a wash, he usually looks dry and fluffy)

This probably isn't the best photo as he's chewing on his tongue (or something), which he's been doing more frequently since I've been offering seed/grass/partially cooked vegetables (carrot, broccoli,capsicum, celery, peas, corn and a tiny bit of ginger), basically, his beak doesn't usually sit open like this.

He's still eating (his weight has plateaued at 44g but I figure its not a major problem as long as he doesn't lose weight. He's also sneezing a bit after each feed and while there's no coloured discharge, a watery substance occasionally comes out...

Could anyone let me know whether I've stuffed up by allowing the food to sit there for too long? And if so is there anything I can do?

I don't think his actual beak looks deformed. I'm sure you haven't "stuffed up". You seem to be very diligent and conscientious. I must admit, I don't remember seeing those little pink skin areas where the lower mandible attaches, on any of mine. But I probably never thought to look. When I check my nest box this morning, I will pay close attention to what my baby chicks look like in that area, and let you know if any of mine have that too.

Thanks Finnie. I honestly hope I never have to do this again, haha. Its so stressful! Plus I haven't had a full nights sleep since I took him from the nest box, even now that he's starting to sleep through most of the night, he still chatters in his sleep and wakes me up . I've also had to put him in a proper cage at night because the other morning I woke up to him crawling onto my chest... He'd crawled out of the box (which is next to my bed at night) and onto the bed .