Fixing 1 crooked toe on a peachick

[raingarden]

Is it OK to breed a bird like that? Is it genetic or something that happened during development?

 

[LilyAlmeyda]

That’s a good question

 

[KsKingBee]

Is it OK to breed a bird like that? Is it genetic or something that happened during development?

It is usually caused by having trouble getting out of the egg. When the humidity or temperature is not right the chick can have problems getting out of the shell. When they have problems getting out they have pipped and started breathing air from the pip hole. That breathing starts the bones to hardening, since the foot is still restricted and flattened in the shell they start to harden in that position. Some people will argue that it is a birth defect and should not be bred and passed on to new generations but I perceive it as a problem that is thrust upon the chick and not genetic.