Help with two new chicks please? *deformed claw*

[chooks4life]

Hope you don't mind. I've doodled on your photo to show you the exact problem.

Top left: obviously, the chick that belongs to the threadstarter, minus doodles.

Top right: a pair of lines demonstrating where the edges of the scales are supposed to be; 'good' scales. The same line of scales that go along the main toe are supposed to continue to march directly up the shin. The scales from outside and inside toes are supposed to flank it on their respective sides of the shin.

Bottom left: A line showing the edge of the outside toe's scales marching right across the main toe's scaling and pushing it towards the inside of the knee. This makes the outside toe 'dominant'. Unfortunately it is accompanied by structural deformity, which causes spraddling, as you can see. The line I drew shows you the edge of the scales. In this case, this line should only be following the shinbone up to the outside of the knee, not trying to go to the inside of the knee.

Bottom right: A line indicating the other sort of spraddling, (not present in this chick) where the inner toe's scales push the main toe's scales towards the outside of the knee.

Hope this helps. If anyone's offended at the use of the photo, just let me know, I'll take it down and delete.

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

I see. So bad scaling is accompanied with bad structure? Good scaling, good bone structure? How important is good scaling? I understand not having bad scaling, but do you need great scaling for better shows and structure ? XD I never knew of scaling

 

[mich01223]

You have been fantastic thank you very much, I will try and get a picture of my males legs as I think he has the problem he goes have a
Ways turned funny anyway but obviously being new breeders we didn't realise this was a genetic issue, we won't be breeding from him again but I'm sure his scales are like you've said above learn something new everyday eh?glad I know now what to look for so thank you for that! The chicks seem to be doing ok we only had 3 hatch out of 20eggs so there is obviously a problem but 2 of those chicks have these deformed claws and one has come out perfectly healthy although he is bullying the other 2 chicks they do seem to be doing ok, I've made little shoes etc for them how long do you think they will need them for? Thank you so much both of you for all your help

 

[chooks4life]

Quote: Unfortunately, in my experience, good scaling is VERY important, the slightest deviations seem to be dire warnings of what is to come. Strong trait. I initially tried to breed it out, but quickly gave up. I'm not known for giving up quickly, either, lol, I tend to keep trying to the bitter end.

Info on the importance of scaling is nowhere near as commonly available as it ought to be. I'd thought it was just a show-bird thing, maybe, since all the books mentioned birds were judged on it. But that's all they said. Pity.

Quote: If only 3 hatched this way, you should be able to assume most of your birds are fine. This is a 'snowball' type issue though, more and more will be born every generation (not sure why) unless the parent at fault is removed. The shoes should only need to be on for around a week. Babies heal quick given a chance. Chooks are very tough livestock!

But the misaligned spraddling will take a from few days up to two weeks to fix. They're standing now, so hopefully not too much longer. When they do get on their legs reliably, they get tired quickly and start to hurt after a short walk as their legs deviate more and more to the inside or outside (depending on scale line). So they will still take a while to keep up with the rest once able to run. Often they will sprint from place to place because they know once they get there they need to take a long rest, and waking slowly means they might not get there. So unlike normal chicks which can keep sprinting all day, these ones will lag if free ranged and generally be distressed about their state. Since yours don't have a hen to keep up with, that shouldn't be an issue for them. After I hatched a few lots of these I knew it was simper to cage the mother with the healthy ones in a small run with the spraddled ones until they were a week or two older, when they had strengthened up enough.

They may not need booties because in a few days their legs should be strong enough to mostly stay under them and that will correct the feet naturally. This is only temporary, it won't last long enough to cripple their feet.

Glad I've been able to help in some way, wish you and your flock all the best. It's nobody's fault for not knowing what they weren't told nor able to find out. I wish I'd known.