How to Fix Curled Toes in Chicks

[casportpony]

Sometimes chicks will hatch with curled toes and I wanna know how you fix curled toes in your chicks. Please share your methods and pictures in this thread.​

This is how I do mine:
I wait 24 hours after hatch to see if the will straighten out on their own. If they don't straighten in 24 hours I fix them with masking tape. The following pictures of this one day old peachick show how.

Before taping

Cut square of tape and place foot and toes in the middle.


Cut second square and place over top of toes and foot.


Trim excess tape. This will make it easier for the chick to walk.


I leave the tape on for three days this usually fixes most cases of curly toe.
​

 

[Hope Hughes]

Thanks!! This seems alot easier then cutting a piece of cardboard and taping it to the bottom of their feet! ​

 

[casportpony]

Thanks!! This seems alot easier then cutting a piece of cardboard and taping it to the bottom of their feet! ​

Yeah, right? lol, I got very frustrated trying cardboard. Duct tape can be used if something more rigid is needed.

 

[Hope Hughes]

Yeah, right? lol, I got very frustrated trying cardboard. Duct tape can be used if something more rigid is needed.

Man I got so mad at the cardboard!
All I could think was how do people do this and not go crazy!
That and it didnt help that I didnt have help with it!
​

 

[casportpony]

Man I got so mad at the cardboard!
All I could think was how do people do this and not go crazy!
That and it didnt help that I didnt have help with it!
​

I know how you feel! Have you seen the pictures where people use pipe cleaners? I would be like this

 

[Hope Hughes]

I know how you feel! Have you seen the pictures where people use pipe cleaners? I would be like this

Omg yes... I wasn't even gonna try that one. I knew all too well what would happen!

​

 

[KikiLeigh02]

Thank you so much for this! It was really helpful!

 

[quaileypotato]

When I take off the tape, will the quail's foot be okay? (No skin peeled off from he tape?) sorry, I am first time quail owner...

 

[casportpony]

When I take off the tape, will the quail's foot be okay? (No skin peeled off from he tape?) sorry, I am first time quail owner...

Welcome to BYC! Never had any issues with the skin coming off, even with duct tape, but if you are concerned you could try using a little water or rubbing alcohol to dissolve the glue on the tape.

 

[Tynk]

Sometimes chicks will hatch with curled toes and I wanna know how you fix curled toes in your chicks. Please share your methods and pictures in this thread.​

This is how I do mine:
I wait 24 hours after hatch to see if the will straighten out on their own. If they don't straighten in 24 hours I fix them with masking tape. The following pictures of this one day old peachick show how.

Before taping

Cut square of tape and place foot and toes in the middle.


Cut second square and place over top of toes and foot.


Trim excess tape. This will make it easier for the chick to walk.


I leave the tape on for three days this usually fixes most cases of curly toe.
​

I want to thank you. I used painter's tape instead of masking tape because that's what I had and I figured it was close. So now I got a baby walking around with blue feet.
But mine's right around a month old, hopefully this still works.
I'm new to chicken keeping and I didn't realize this was something I needed to watch for, I got these chicks from my local Rural King.