Curled Toes and Swollen (twisted?) Hock *Pics*

thegoogers

Songster
11 Years
Oct 6, 2008
224
2
119
Cleveland, TN
We are hatching Welsummer Chicks. They were due yesterday. This little guy came out Friday evening and his toes are curled. I didn't have any cardboard (until now) so I went ahead and put a band aid on his toes to straighten them out in the mean time. My concern is...he won't extend his leg. He keeps it close to his body (as you can see in the one pic were we make him stand) and won't stand up extending his legs. He lays on his side a lot instead of hunched down like most chicks naturally do. His hock looks slightly twisted and maybe swollen and there is a red area? Well...now I have another chick same batch with curled toes!

Do you think this is genetic?

Will this correct itself?

The other 4 eggs that were developing have not hatched. I hear nothing, no rocking. I am afraid that maybe this is genetic or maybe a vitamin issue and it caused the others that may be afflicted with the same issues no not even hatch.

Here are some pictures. What do you think?

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Could be genetc, could be something up wtih incubation/shipping. Red and swelling is probably due to scooting around. Don't think it can auto correct, may need help with the bandaid and cardboard.
 
I incubated these guys myself. What could possibly happen in incubation to cause this? I have never had this problem and all the parameters were the same.


Any help is appreciated
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Thanks!
 
I hatched one like that. If you take a bandaid and cut it in half lengthwise then take one half and wrap it around one leg just below the bend, the other on the other leg and the sticky part goes between the legs positioning them about an inch apart (picture handcuffs) this will make the chick stand. Be careful, it'll tip over quite a bit at first, so you may have to keep standing him back up. Don't let him drown in the water dish. This will usually correct it.

My batch of eggs got cold, (the hen walked off the nest, so I rushed the eggs to the 'bator) then, I think the humidity was a little too low during hatch. Maybe one of those factors caused the problem...

Hope this works for your chicks.....
 
Last year one of my first Delawares to hatch had a similar problem with both legs -- the wouldn't/couldn't extend away from his body. His hocks also got torn up from all his scooting around in the hatcher. I eventually put some neosporin on them and tried to keep him confined so they wouldn't get torn up anymore. He died a short time later.
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Might I suggest instead of wrapping the toes, you make a "band-aid sandwich"? Cut the two sticky ends off a band aid and discard the Telfa pad. Place one of the ends, sticky side up and place the toes, fully extended on it. Place the other end, sticky side down to keep the toes right where you want them. No need for cardboard or pieces of margarine lids as described in other posts. Keep these on for at least 24 hours and the toes will be perfect. Can be reapplied if removed too early. Have never had this fail. Cannot comment on legs tho'. Have never had a problem with legs. Good Luck
 
OK toes are taped...we will see. I don't think "he" is very happy with me LOL Still holding the leg up but I think I am going to work on the toes first then the leg issue if it still remains.

I have left the other chick alone as it isn't as bad to see what happens tomorrow.

Thanks everyone.
 
Poor baby, I had one that had weird bent toes and the "ankle" joint bent the wrong way. I had to boot her up with a piece of cardboard (from a cereal box) and I used medical tape. I also taped the one leg to the other with a space between then.

She got straight in under 2 days, she hobbled around a bit after than but now can run around like the rest of them.

This was Gimpy when she hatched:
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A few days later:
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