How ling do you wait to start trying to fix crooked toes

[Knix6468]

I am wondering if I am starting too late. I have two that hatched out this afternoon and
One has both outside toes bent at 90 degree angle at a joint toward other two toes.

I think he will probably need shoes but, how long do you wait to let nature
Hopefully correct this.

 

[they'reHISchickens]

I would start as soon as they are bearing some weight on the foot-- or at least until they are dried off and moving.

 

[greenbird]

I leave them be until they are dry, then you'll be able to see if they really a crooned. Once I know for sure if its toes are crooked I put on the shoes.

I do the pipe cleaner trick. It's the best thing I've found.

 

[PeepsCA]

I have never hatched any Peachicks, (I have 2 that I got when they were a couple days old tho...no toe issues with them, whew) but I've hatched around 1000 Guinea keets... and when I fix crooked toes on a keet I make them a tape shoe... and trim it so it looks more like a flipper. I'll try to explain my technique..

First I press the toes down on a wide enough piece of tape (sticky side up) to fit the foot with toes spread open all the way, gently pressing the 3 toes to the tape and making sure they are straight, (you may need a helper). Then once I am happy with the position of the toes I add another layer of tape (same size), sticky side down so it sticks to the first piece of tape and then I gently press it together between all 3 toes and outside of the toes. After it's all stuck and the toes are secure I trim the excess from the back and front corners. Looks sorta like a scuba diving flipper when I am done so whichever keet gets foxed this way gets a temporay nick name of "Flipper", lol. I usually use black electrical tape for keets, but you may be able to use regular duct tape to accomplish the same thing. It takes them a little while to figure out how to walk with it on, but it usually lasts/stays on about 3 days or so, and by then the toes are fixed

Maybe you can give it a try?

Good luck!

 

[ColbyNTX]

Peeps idea works well but I would use the 1" white athletic tape instead of duct tape. Some duct tape is some nasty stuff!