New baby: what's wrong?

My Brahma bantam hatched a couple hours ago. I noticed the outer toe on the right foot is not right. Seems limp. Looks like it affects her ability to walk/stand. Sure she can learn to compensate over time but want others thoughts. Is there something I can/should do?

Can't add a video but here's some screen shots

Hard to tell with all of her toe fuzz/feathers.....


But it looks like a couple of toes are fused together....

Once she is dry and fluffy and out of the incubator.. Take a close look at those toes.

If they are fused, you can cut them apart any time in the first few days without too much blood.

Sometimes it is just the skin.... Like too much toe webbing... Sometimes the actual meaty part of the toes are grown together.....

Whichever way.... Still fixable.


Get prepared,

- cleaned super sharp cutting implement (whatever you like best, I have super sharp sewing scissors). Scrub them super clean with soap and water.
- clean papertowels
- painters tape (the blue stuff) but other tape can work too
- something to stop blood, corn starch or flour (which is what I use), but the fancy stuff from the pet store works too.

Then, what you do:
- figure out exactly where you want to cut, then cut to seperate the toes.
- extra webbing might not bleed at all, or just a little, cutting through the meat will bleed. If it is bleeding I apply preasure with the papertowel for a full five minutes.
- after about five (or 10 if you had to cut through meat), remove pressure amd check. If it is still wanting to bleed then apply flour (or whatever) and apply pressure again. Next time you check there should be no bleeding.
- dust a bit more flour on wound if needed, shake off excess, then make "shoes" with the tape. The tape is to force the toes to move into the correct position and learn to stay there. Place the foot on the tape, arrange toes, then fold tape over the top of the foot.
- repeat for second foot if needed.

After three days everything should be perfect, remove the tape, and tada!!!

Do watch them though, and make sure you use a non-drown waterer since the shoes can make the chicks clumsy. Make sure they can manage to walk around and get food and water, and that the bedding is such so that the chick will not slip. Slipping chicks mean you will get splayed legs on top of everything else don't want that.

Also watch to make sure the toes stay in the position they need to stay at for those first few days.


Edited for typoes

Thank you so much for taking the time to give me detailed instructions!! She's almost dry. I don't think they are fused as she actually started stepping on it correctly. I think time may actually help correct itself.

I happened upon a video about feet (forget what it was called). The videos explained how to create a 'shoe' from bandaid or masking tape. Was thinking about doing that until I saw her starting to use it correctly.

I'll definitely keep an eye on it and save your instructions for future use.

Thanks again! I really appreciate the help.

No problem!

If they are fused, it is best to not ever use her for breeding.

Good luck.

I can totally understand that. Thanks again!