HELP!! Baby chick hatched MISSING TOES??!?!

[hannahsocal]

I had a very successful hatch so far but one of my chicks (the last one to pip) was having trouble and making no progress so I stepped in to help (gently, carefully with all precautions taken of course). When he was almost out of the shell, I noticed one of the feet had all of the toes shorter than the other foot. I’ve heard that brachydactally (sp?) can cause short toes but only on the 4th digit. Does anyone know what might have caused this? Will it “grow in”? Photos attached of the shorter toe-d foot and a healthy chick foot from the same hatch!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

It might grow. I had a polish chick arrive with a teeny little nail and 6 months later you wouldn't ever know.

Or.its a genetic fluke. Either way, if that's the only thing wrong, it won't kill it

 

[hannahsocal]

It might grow. I had a polish chick arrive with a teeny little nail and 6 months later you wouldn't ever know.

Or.its a genetic fluke. Either way, if that's the only thing wrong, it won't kill it

Yeah I was thinking it was just the nail at first, but the whole entire toes are shorter… and I also haven’t heard this chick make any sounds. It just opens its mouth and closes it. But no “peeps,” even when it was earlier in the hatching process. Maybe the toe defect is the only visible thing but maybe there’s a lung defect too or something? Maybe it was squished against the side of the egg or something like that, I’m not sure

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Yeah I was thinking it was just the nail at first, but the whole entire toes are shorter… and I also haven’t heard this chick make any sounds. It just opens its mouth and closes it. But no “peeps,” even when it was earlier in the hatching process. Maybe the toe defect is the only visible thing but maybe there’s a lung defect too or something? Maybe it was squished against the side of the egg or something like that, I’m not sure

It's possible. Usually they're screaming in the incubator (I would be too tbh).

 

[sourland]

Frequently one congenital problem indicates the presence of others - perhaps internal.

 

[hannahsocal]

Frequently one congenital problem indicates the presence of others - perhaps internal.

I was thinking the same thing, thanks for confirming my suspicion is a possibility. I hope it’s just a weird circumstance “fluke” like the other poster said, and not a genetic issue.

 

[Honey Meadows]

I was thinking the same thing, thanks for confirming my suspicion is a possibility. I hope it’s just a weird circumstance “fluke” like the other poster said, and not a genetic issue.

Let us know how it continues to develop.

 

[hannahsocal]

Update: toes seem a little longer maybe? There is definite webbing noticeable between the toes and the toes are still obviously shorter than the other foot. No toenails yet on the affected foot. Doesn’t appear to have serious issues walking however, but it is a smaller chick overall than the other siblings.

 

[Paz]

do you know how when premature babies hatch, they sometime have shorter fingers? Maybe that’s the thing. They might also have smaller or under developed lungs and kidneys and some other organs I don’t know the name of…

 

[hannahsocal]

UPDATE 5 DAYS AFTER ASSISTED HATCH: Foot looks the same. Noticeable webbing and no toe or nail growth. Photos attached. Hoping the webbing will subside and toes will grow but we’ll see.