I just finished hatching a bunch of Coturnix Quail chicks (hatched 17th-18th) and two of them seem to have a curled foot (both seem to be the left foot). This is the first hatch I have had with this egg source. In previous hatches of my own eggs I have only had a curled foot two to three times, and it seemed like the curled foot was caused by malpositioning or being stuck in the egg too long. I was able to fix the previous chicks with a brace or sandal made from that squishy medical tape that sticks to itself.
The first chick I was able to get the brace on and it appears to be staying on the foot, now the chick is walking normally. I grabbed the second chick to do the same and one of the toes is attached to its thumb/back toe. I could try to straighten the two toes that are free, but the foot would still be messed up because the other two toes are attached. Do I try to separate the toes? Do I leave it be? Will they separate on their own?
The chick has been getting around ok, but I know it may cause issues/discomfort/pain when it gets older and bigger. I had planned to use the birds from this hatch for breeding - is this likely a genetic thing or did is this a development thing in the egg and it could happen to any chick?
The first chick I was able to get the brace on and it appears to be staying on the foot, now the chick is walking normally. I grabbed the second chick to do the same and one of the toes is attached to its thumb/back toe. I could try to straighten the two toes that are free, but the foot would still be messed up because the other two toes are attached. Do I try to separate the toes? Do I leave it be? Will they separate on their own?
The chick has been getting around ok, but I know it may cause issues/discomfort/pain when it gets older and bigger. I had planned to use the birds from this hatch for breeding - is this likely a genetic thing or did is this a development thing in the egg and it could happen to any chick?
