Crooked toes !!

[farmgirl216]

One of my chicks toes have started to go crooked. They were straight and normal when he was first hatched and the first week but have slowly started to turn. I attached a photo to show. (FYI we're out on the porch because it's a very lovely 90 degree day and I thought they would enjoy some fresh air )

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Poor baby, could they have gotten broken some way and just healed incorrectly? Are they affecting his quality of life?

 

[farmgirl216]

Poor baby, could they have gotten broken some way and just healed incorrectly? Are they affecting his quality of life?

No he's fine! There's two other chicks that just have one crooked toe but they don't seem to mind! One of my silkies has like claw feet. All her toes curl under! But she can roost and everything like all the others!

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Pat yourself on the back, sounds like they will all have great lives.

 

[farmgirl216]

Pat yourself on the back, sounds like they will all have great lives.

Thanks

 

[lazy gardener]

You will find that over time those crooked toes get worse. Can be caused by: poor nutrition in the hen who laid the egg, abnormal incubation temps, or genetic defect. You might try splinting them, but at this age, I'm guessing the results will not be lasting.

 

[farmgirl216]

You will find that over time those crooked toes get worse. Can be caused by: poor nutrition in the hen who laid the egg, abnormal incubation temps, or genetic defect. You might try splinting them, but at this age, I'm guessing the results will not be lasting.

I understand I'm unsure unless it was the hen. It was my first time incubating so I made sure everything was by the book the temp and the humidity. The eggs we used were given to my boyfriend for me to hatch out. It was definitely an awesome learning experience and I can't wait to do it again!

 

[lazy gardener]

Yep, incubating is an awesome experience. Did you calibrate your thermometer and hygrometer? Also, do the dry incubation method? What was your hatch rate? My hatch this year was good: good rate, and no issues. Last year, I rushed the set of eggs, and had not taken the time to completely trouble shoot my new bator (home made) and had 2 chicks with toes that subluxed. I do give my flock vitamins starting about 2 weeks before I start collecting hatching eggs.

 

[loulou6979]

I had a couple of chicks hatch out with crooked toes the first time I incubated. I used band-aids and cut the pad off, leaving 2 sticky ends. I took one end and placed the chicks foot on it making sure to get the toes as straight as I could, then placed the other sticky piece on top of the foot. I pressed the band-aids pieces together as well as I could, making sure to get between the toes. I left them on for a few days and when I removed them the toes were straight. Stayed that way to. Look up how to splint a chicks feet to straighten crooked toes. I can't remember the exact amount of time suggested to leave the splints on. Good Luck.

 

[Heavnlydove]

We have a hen with curled toes. They were like that when we got her. She gets around fine. We call her our club foot hen.