A curled toe like I have not seen before.

[jjaazzy]

Just pulled a batch of new fuzzy butts from the incubator. I always tend to flatten out their toes to make sure all is well. Today I found one with a curled toe and nothing like I have witnessed before. At first, I thought something was holding the point of the toe from flattening out. Then I looked and it looks webbed from the underside, like the skin is thick and not flexible and not ever going to let that toe flatten. So the toe is hooked like a J, or the handle of an umbrella, anyone have this experience? I don't suppose there is anything I can do about it.

 

[Abriana]

Pics?

 

[Chicken Whisperers]

Is it a crossbreed? It's common in crossbreeds to have deformities. Also, I agree, @Abriana , pics would help

 

[sylviethecochin]

Is it a crossbreed? It's common in crossbreeds to have deformities

Can you give us a source for that information? I don't mean to be rude, but that doesn't sound right.

 

[Chicken Whisperers]

In the book Keeping Chickens by Sue Weaver. We hatched out an Ameraucana- Blue laced red Wyandotte that had five toes on one foot and a toe that split in two on the other. Kinda funky

 

[ChickNanny13]

Pics

 

[Sneebsey]

I don't believe that this applies in this situation @Chicken Whisperers. It's common for polydactyly to occur in strange manners with mixes between five-toed and four-toed breeds, though both Ameraucana and Wyandotte are four-toed. Generally, mixed breeds have better general health than purebreeds due to the wider gene pool, therefore foot deformities like this ought to be less common.

@jjaazzy, have you considered making a 'boot' for the chick using a piece of thick card and a plaster? I wonder that the 'webbing' on the underside may make things tricky though.

 

[jjaazzy]

Hi all, I am going to try and get you a picture I didn't have any help before. I can't force it to uncoil it is stiff. They are silkies so 5 toes and they came from a ribbon winner. I am not going to blame the breeder as I know these things just do happen.

 

[jjaazzy]

The chicks have been out of the brooder for a few hours now. Now I see what is happening. It appears that the last two toes are webed together on each foot of this little let's call it gal.

 

[jjaazzy]