Can this chicks toe be fixed? good to breed with?

[chickengeorgeto]

Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately is a better choice of words, the ethics of breeding chickens are not the same set of ethics that apply to humans.

When a chick emerges from the shell its DNA is set. Nothing that you can do will alter a chickens' DNA post hatch. No not all the Band Aid boots in the world will make a hoot of difference then. I will not advise you for or against culling this chick but culling (in a small hobby flock) does not mean destroying the chick but it does mean that if you don't want a whole flock of bent beak or crooked chickens on your hands then don't breed from anything but the best and healthiest examples of chicken flesh.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

You can never get "PURE" naked neck chickens by trying to breed strange DNA it out of them. The best that you or anyone else can hope for is grade naked necks.

 

[Maddison]

You can never get "PURE" naked neck chickens by trying to breed strange DNA it out of them. The best that you or anyone else can hope for is grade naked necks.

I don't mean pure as in breed, but in appearance. it sucks that I can't breed with this chick. My mum will probably buy her off me, shes gotten attached to some of them...

 

[lazy gardener]

Crooked toes as well as other skeleta deformities (scissor beak included) can be caused by faulty genetics. In that case such deformities ARE linked to DNA.

Such issues may also be caused by poor diet in the parents, which leads to poor nutrition of the developing embryo. Faulty incubation temps, even faulty brooding.

See attached article: https://poultrykeeper.com/skeletal-and-muscular-disorders/crooked-toes/

So, a lot depends on the flock keeper's goals and assessment of the cause. IF you are reasonably certain that the cause of your issue is linked to faulty nutrition, faulty incubation, or even faulty brooding, AND if, the chick in question otherwise has genetics that you want to breed forward, THEN, you could do so with caution.

1. Do what ever you must do to correct the assumed cause of the problem, whether it be diet, incubation, or brooder set up.

2. Be prepared to do a hard cull in future generations if the issue shows up in future generations. Realize that it may not show up for 2 - 3 generations.

3. Got other breeding options? Use them.

4. Be sure you have an accurate system in place to track all successive breedings from the defective bird.

5. For the serious breeder who breeds to sell: cull such a chick immediately.

Finally, there may be an inherent weakness in the parent bird. Not even discussing the possibility of crooked toes being a DNA linked trait. But this: If all the rest of the chicks which were hatched from the same flock (who was fed the same diet), and were hatched in the same incubator were problem free, then, it's possible that the parents of the defective chick have a metabolic deficiency, or other issue which made them less able to produce a good viable egg.

2 seasons ago, I had some hatching issues. 2 crooked toe chicks, and 1 unabsorbed yolk. I know for a fact that my incubator temp ran low for part of the incubation. The chicks had traits I wanted to breed forward. So, I did so, with the realization that I may be breeding a problem into my flock. I was, and am prepared to do a hard cull if the crooked toes present in the future. Last generation was problem free.

 

[Maddison]

Crooked toes as well as other skeleta deformities (scissor beak included) can be caused by faulty genetics. In that case such deformities ARE linked to DNA.

Such issues may also be caused by poor diet in the parents, which leads to poor nutrition of the developing embryo. Faulty incubation temps, even faulty brooding.

See attached article: https://poultrykeeper.com/skeletal-and-muscular-disorders/crooked-toes/

So, a lot depends on the flock keeper's goals and assessment of the cause. IF you are reasonably certain that the cause of your issue is linked to faulty nutrition, faulty incubation, or even faulty brooding, AND if, the chick in question otherwise has genetics that you want to breed forward, THEN, you could do so with caution.

1. Do what ever you must do to correct the assumed cause of the problem, whether it be diet, incubation, or brooder set up.

2. Be prepared to do a hard cull in future generations if the issue shows up in future generations. Realize that it may not show up for 2 - 3 generations.

3. Got other breeding options? Use them.

4. Be sure you have an accurate system in place to track all successive breedings from the defective bird.

5. For the serious breeder who breeds to sell: cull such a chick immediately.

Finally, there may be an inherent weakness in the parent bird. Not even discussing the possibility of crooked toes being a DNA linked trait. But this: If all the rest of the chicks which were hatched from the same flock (who was fed the same diet), and were hatched in the same incubator were problem free, then, it's possible that the parents of the defective chick have a metabolic deficiency, or other issue which made them less able to produce a good viable egg.

2 seasons ago, I had some hatching issues. 2 crooked toe chicks, and 1 unabsorbed yolk. I know for a fact that my incubator temp ran low for part of the incubation. The chicks had traits I wanted to breed forward. So, I did so, with the realization that I may be breeding a problem into my flock. I was, and am prepared to do a hard cull if the crooked toes present in the future. Last generation was problem free.

I know for sure its due to the parent's diet, I know their direct heritage as I bought them locally, the person who hatched them did so with a correct diet and perfect brooder and incubator environment and had no problems at all. My incubator was OK this round, it was my first time and I had some major issues with humidity and temp in later stages.

Out of 12 eggs, I got 5 who died in the egg, 2 splayed, 1 crooked, 1 slightly crooked and 3 healthy chicks. on the non NN side I got 1 good chick, 1 dud, and one whom unfortunately had to be put down due to water in the lungs, courtesy of my idiot self-thinking I was stoping dehydration by dropping water into its beak... It could have been better but I say I did pretty well for someone who knew very little about hatching and only did research after I set my eggs...

I have 3 chicks who were born on day 18, they all turned out deformity free and healthy, the best of the batch. 1 out of 3 is mostly NN with 2 feathers if it turns out hen I may keep it If I can't get any better next gen. I got 2 other chicks who had splayed leg which I mistook for crooked toe and as such treated it incorrectly, they had to be put down. I don't have the heart to cull chicks who can live a happy stress-free life. I'll likely keep any deformed chicks like this if they can live happily, in their own pen not for breeding. just can't bring myself to cull my little babies!