Chicken legs, Have you noticed

[BamaChicken]

I have noticed how sensitive to position chick legs can be. They can be crippled easily by having their leg stuck in wrong position for a little while. I noticed this morning one of my fav silkie chicks was limpy and so I took it out examined and couldn't figure out what was going on. I set it down and it acted like it couldn't walk. I carried it in the house for closer observation and i finally figured out what was wrong The foot feathering is so heavy and long that somehow one of the feathers on one foot got stuck to the other foot and it couldn't walk. I pulled it apart and it was okay. I am so happy I took time to watch them for a bit this morning and didn't end up with a crippled chick.

 

[kstaven]

Feather legged breeds do offer challenges like you describe. Toes that get to dirty from not keeping the bedding clean and then having feathers sticking to them will deform toes also.