Wierd Feet

SoldierSailor

In the Brooder
Jun 10, 2015
67
1
42
Oceanside CA









One of the hens we got recently turned out to be a roo.

The farmer we bought the white silkie from agreed to take the roo back and give us a hen.

The poor things he brought out were in pretty sorry shape and I asked to see the pens/coops, he refused.

That should have been my first clue something was off.

I took the better looking of the 3 he said were from the "breeding" pen so he was sure the chicken was a hen
and had been brooding.

She was filthy and feathers caked with poop especially her feet.

I got her home and we bathed her well and in some cases trimmed the poop out a feathers.

We got a good lood at her feet and they seemed really odd, almost laying flat like all she ever had done was sit in a cage and not real mobile. I know silkies are not the most active breed but she does look as if she moved much. unsteady on her feet.

I have included some photos.
Should I be worried?
Will she strengthen now she has a run with ample space


Any comments are appreciated.

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On another note how do you go about reporting a "breeder" with poor living conditions. I did not actually see the pens
but the condition of the 3 and his not wanting to show me where they are kept was quite bothersome.
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Poor girl. I'm glad you helped her out.

Without proper care, silkies are prone to twisted, crooked feet. All my silkies have twisted toes, but it doesn't harm them. You could try carefully clipping her toes, a little at a time, until they are shorter. Get her on vitamins and minerals as fast as possible. She should strengthen over time, but it may be due to inbreeding or something and may never heal completely.

If the breeder has a website, you can report the website and breeder on one of the sites specifically for that purpose. It isn't being mean to the breeder to report them, it is protecting people who would buy from them otherwise and the birds they are breeding.

Best of luck!
smile.png
 
What kind of vitamins supplements?? Do we mix it in feed or water??

I've been reading of Polyvisal but have not seen how to mix it.

There are special chicken vitamins available at feed stores and on the internet that can be mixed with the water (better than food, as it will fall to the bottom and not be eaten). Scrambled eggs can offer lots of vitamins too.
 
I am happy to report that both Silkies are doing much better. With room to run around, a clean coop and other chickens around they are much happier. a little exercise and love and they are on their way back to being happy chickens
 
I also have two white silkies with messed up feet, they both came like that when we got them. We just assumed it was a genetic deformity because we got them at tractor supply and our other breed doesn't have them. here is a picture of one of them :
 

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