Chickens getting sore/curling feet

[kelseyk]

We are new to chickens and have done okay so far....but now I have chickens that age getting tender on their feet. The first one started getting sore and 2 of her toes were curling under about 2 weeks ago. I thought she might have gotten her foot caught in the chicken wire fence and had broke them, so I wrapped them to straighten them out (this was her right foot). Her feet have just gotten worse - now the toes on both feet are starting to curl. She still gets around a bit, but mostly just lays around and is still eating fine. Yesterday I noticed that 2 more of my chickens are acting tender on their right foot. I have looked their feet over and don't see any swelling or abcesses and nothing feels broken. They are all Wyandotes and 15 weeks old. What can I do? Thanks in advance!!!

 

[coach723]

First I would give them a riboflavin (vitamin B12) supplement. Deficiency can cause curled toes. Here is an article that discusses: https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry
scroll down to curled toes. Also just below that section is one on chick shoes for correcting, if necessary.
What are you feeding? Old feed, poorly formulated feed, or non-chick feed, could be the reason if it is a vitamin deficiency.
If you think that's what it is, check your feed bag for dates it was produced, buy a fresher batch, or consider switching to a different feed brand.

 

[kelseyk]

Thanks for your reply! I checked out the article and went and got a different feed (didn't have the label for my last bag), a supplement black, and am feeding some spinach and hard boiled eggs now. Will be making chicken shoes soon.

 

[coach723]

Let us know how they do and if you see improvement.