Congenital deformity? Missing claws

[Redhead Rae]

I was weighing my Delaware and New Hampshire pullets this morning so I could decide who I want to use as breeders moving forward and tag them. I want to breed with the heavier birds because I'm using these two breeds to have Indian River Broilers. One of the two "lightweights" (these two where a pound lighter than the smallest "middleweight") is missing the claws from her middle toes. Is this a congenital deformity? The ends of her toes look too clean to be missing due to trauma. I'm glad she isn't one of my middle or heavyweights. I'll keep her as a layer, but I will not even use her for breeding broilers.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Most likely fell off from frostbite

 

[Redhead Rae]

Most likely fell off from frostbite

Impossible. She was hatched out the week of 4/24 this year. We haven't had any nights below 35-40 since we got them.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Impossible. She was hatched out the week of 4/24 this year. We haven't had any nights below 35-40 since we got them.

could be from scratching too

 

[Redhead Rae]

could be from scratching too

Scratching? From other chickens or this pullet herself?

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Scratching? From other chickens or this pullet herself?

her scratching the ground looking for bugs, maybe she scratches on rocks/pavement a lot

 

[varidgerunner]

Have any rats?

 

[Redhead Rae]

Have any rats?

I haven't seen signs of any. I know what rat poop looks like, my sisters used to have rats for pets.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

thats a thought, my neighbor kept a couple chickens in a rabbit hutch (think off the ground with 1/2" mesh floor) and weasels ate their toes

 

[RedDrgn]

It looks like she's always been missing them, so whether inheritable or not, appears to be something she was hatched with. It's too regular (same toe on both feet and looks the same on both) to be an injury or due to too much wear.