Silkie chick strange foot-with pictures

[Christina.Rich]

Hi everyone,

I purchased some silkie chicks at a local auction hosted by a chicken/waterfowl group. When I came home to put them in their cage, I noticed one chick has a malformed foot. I’m not sure if it’s actually malformed (from birth) or if it is an injury.

What do you guys think?

He/she can walk totally fine and she doesn’t really seem in pain?

 

[ChickenGal1842]

If he/she doesn't seem in pain it's probably fine but if he/she starts limping there's something wrong with it... He/she will probably be fine tho if it was hatched with it and has no issues walking!

 

[PollyGirl21]

You could try making little "sandals" for it to help her foot straighten out.

 

[Christina.Rich]

@PollyGirl21
If you look at the top picture, you will see that she walks on the "top" of her foot almost, like the foot itself is flipped upside-down. Do you think sandals would work? How would I go about doing that?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It looks like a deformity. Could be genetic or a problem from hatching.

A chick this old, likely you will not be able to fix the foot. https://poultrykeeper.com/skeletal-and-muscular-disorders/crooked-toes/
If you are planning on breeding your birds, eliminate her from your breeding group.

You can try taping the foot, it may be painful for her so start slowing working the feet.
Add B2 (Riboflavin) to her diet, either through poultry vitamins or crushing 1/4tablet of human B-Complex (no iron) and adding it to her food.

She may learn to navigate o.k. but you will want to monitor the foot from here on out for any cuts/scrapes or signs of infection, since she is walking on the top of the foot. It's possible if this is genetic, then she may have other developmental issue present as she gets older.

https://www.mypetchicken.com/backya...-toes-are-all-curled-up-whats-wrong-H293.aspx
https://sites.google.com/a/larsencreek.com/chicken-orthopedics/

 

[Christina.Rich]

It looks like a deformity. Could be genetic or a problem from hatching.

Thank you for the educational advise and knowledge on this. I do not plan on breeding her, but rather just for a pet. I have a couple other Silkies that I may breed, but not her.

As for the tape- do you think if I tape it, it will help long term with just keeping a barrier against it from getting cut or scraped when she walks? I don't really want to try to put it back in to "place" but if she can live a semi-normal life with the foot as is and I can just take preventative measures for her to make sure she comfortable, I'm willing to do keep on with the B2 and the taping of the foot.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

As for the tape- do you think if I tape it, it will help long term with just keeping a barrier against it from getting cut or scraped when she walks? I don't really want to try to put it back in to "place" but if she can live a semi-normal life with the foot as is and I can just take preventative measures for her to make sure she comfortable, I'm willing to do keep on with the B2 and the taping of the foot.

I would assume over time the foot will callus or harden up, but providing some type of protective barrier is a good idea. Try the tape, but you may also want to look into bird booties. You can purchase them, or you may at least get inspiration on fashioning your own foot covering. Of course, you still want to check the feet even if you have them covered, dirt/poop and moisture can collect between those toes and fester. http://www.hensaver.com/Birdy-Bootie.html

As for the vitamins, give her those 1-2times a week for the first couple of weeks, then reduce those to 1X a week. The chick starter does have what a chick needs, but it won't hurt to give her a boost.