I have no idea...molting? crop?

[jellyroll]

Glad to hear this might be a common thing and nothing major that would require the frying pan.

I think I have 5-6 cockerels in all (some of what I thought were hens are now showing signs of cockerel)...... But there's one in particular that is really trying to rule the roost. He picks on all of the chicks and has even begun locating food for the other pullets. It's entertaining. But I haven't thought about trying to separate him.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Well, i've located one issue this morning. She keeps on her right side while laying down. I had her out trying to give her more Corid when I noticed her foot. One of her toes looks either dislocated or broken. It's completely twisted back towards her heel. Not sure if the photo gives a good look at it. View attachment 1568660

That's probably her main problem.
It looks like it's broken - not a developmental/genetic problem.

You can try splinting it to fix it. She's in pain, so that would cause her not to eat/drink and she would also not be wanting to move.
I would cage her within the sight of the others so the cockerels don't bother her and she's not picked on. You want her to eat/drink.

Here's some splinting info
https://theiwrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Duerr_Splinting_Manual_2010.pdf
http://www.starlingtalk.com/fractures.htm

 

[jellyroll]

Thanks for the info.
I can't stop thinking of the title of my post (and what I was trying to diagnose) and now my chicken has a broken toe. Swiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnggggg and a HUGE miss!!

Wow.....talk about wrong from the start.

This toe is not only broken, but it is twisted upside down. So for me to "move" it into place for a splint, I'll need to twist and pull. Sweet. But, I really think the toe is completely separated from the bone. The tissue is slightly swollen and it doesn't look too nice.

I'm trying to find out how to splint a toe, especially a toe with feathers, when I have never done a thing like this in my life.

So far, free eggs that are still 2 months out, along with the "owner" (my wife) being out of town 5 days a week is really not making this a situation I want to deal with.

Question.............
Can I just cut the toe off? Seriously. I'm sure it'll bleed but in the end I'm probably going to have to do this anyway. I can't see this toe healing at all.

 

[jellyroll]

Well the splint is in place. I only had electrical tape......not ideal, but that's all i had. She managed well throughout the procedure. For now, the jacked up toe is taped adjacent to the normal toe. I hope this works.

 

[lovingmyhens]

Oh gosh! Well poor you! And poor chicken . I hope what you’ve done helps. Any idea how the toe got that way?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for the info.
I can't stop thinking of the title of my post (and what I was trying to diagnose) and now my chicken has a broken toe. Swiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnggggg and a HUGE miss!!

Wow.....talk about wrong from the start.

This toe is not only broken, but it is twisted upside down. So for me to "move" it into place for a splint, I'll need to twist and pull. Sweet. But, I really think the toe is completely separated from the bone. The tissue is slightly swollen and it doesn't look too nice.

I'm trying to find out how to splint a toe, especially a toe with feathers, when I have never done a thing like this in my life.

So far, free eggs that are still 2 months out, along with the "owner" (my wife) being out of town 5 days a week is really not making this a situation I want to deal with.

Question.............
Can I just cut the toe off? Seriously. I'm sure it'll bleed but in the end I'm probably going to have to do this anyway. I can't see this toe healing at all.

Well the splint is in place. I only had electrical tape......not ideal, but that's all i had. She managed well throughout the procedure. For now, the jacked up toe is taped adjacent to the normal toe. I hope this works.

Well, you made me cringe from your description, for little thing!

As I was reading, I was thinking the same thing - I wonder if it might be better to cut the toe off. Do you have a vet that can help you with that?

It's good that you taped it, but I would also worry about swelling, so keep close watch on it.
Now...I'm not chiding you for using electrical tape - you use what you have on hand sometimes. If you need to get that off her for some reason - use some type of oil to help loosen it up - mineral oil, baby oil or even olive/coconut in a pinch.

 

[jellyroll]

Well there's definitely a broke toe, but something else is going on with her. Her mouth is open and she appears to have labored breathing, she keeps moving her legs back and forth and also shivering (not entire body, just legs), and the toes on the other leg don't look right. She does not appear to have direct control over her feet/toes. She can move her legs, but none of the toes stay move around.

From this morning she has really gone downhill.

This is really bizarre.

 

[Kiki]

Mouth open breathing...pain and stress.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I agree, she looks to be in bad shape.

I'm not sure what to do for her, but if she is getting worse, then it may be time to cull.

 

[jellyroll]

I culled her about an hour after posting the video.

This chicken stuff is a heck of a lot crazier than I had ever imagined. Besides the apparent broken toe, I have no clue what was going on with this chicken. There is nothing online that I could find that show similar symptoms or anything what she was going through. There was obviously something much more serious than a toe issue.