July 4th Hatch-A-Long?

[blogachick]

So glad it's getting better! Yes pic...She certainly isn't camera shy!

She's beautiful! Her picture brightened my day. Thanks for sharing.

 

[blogachick]

Look up "chicken boot" and do that so the toes straighten as much as possible as soon as possible. I had a roo with a slightly bent middle toe and didnt think much of it- now it hurts him tremendously and he cant run... really wish I had booted him now.

I followed your advice and 'booted up' my chick's foot. Took it off in three days and the toes had straightened out quite a bit. Next time, I'll do it right away. Hope I didn't wait too long.




Thank you for all of your valuable information and advice and taking time to help a newbie.

And a Big Thank You for starting this hatch-a-long. It's been so much fun and even though I was not successful with my babies, the experience just makes me want to try harder next time.

 

[Maeschak]

Fantastic to see the progress!

The remaining two curved toes on the right foot will become much more prominently curved as the chick gets older (because the chicken gets heavier and those two toes bare the weight of the chicken while walking), so if you have the time and inclination you may want to splint those two curved toes on the right foot with a toothpick (but you have to do it soon). Just break off a toothpick and put it on top of the toe/foot and use a band-aid or painters tape to tape the toothpick to the toe so that the toe is straight. (Just like in the old 'emergency care' books for hikers etc that break their leg or arm - you want that appendage to be STRAIGHT as it heals).

The interior toe on the left foot will also probably curve a lot as it gets older but that probably won't stop your chicken from enjoying his/her life as it gets older bc that toe seems to be used more for grasping a round roost...

Anyway, congratulations- you got a great chick on your hands!

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

I followed your advice and 'booted up' my chick's foot. Took it off in three days and the toes had straightened out quite a bit. Next time, I'll do it right away. Hope I didn't wait too long.

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Thank you for all of your valuable information and advice and taking time to help a newbie.

And a Big Thank You for starting this hatch-a-long. It's been so much fun and even though I was not successful with my babies, the experience just makes me want to try harder next time.

I'm glad its doing good?
And keep up posted when you set another batch!

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Fantastic to see the progress!

The remaining two curved toes on the right foot will become much more prominently curved as the chick gets older (because the chicken gets heavier and those two toes bare the weight of the chicken while walking), so if you have the time and inclination you may want to splint those two curved toes on the right foot with a toothpick (but you have to do it soon). Just break off a toothpick and put it on top of the toe/foot and use a band-aid or painters tape to tape the toothpick to the toe so that the toe is straight. (Just like in the old 'emergency care' books for hikers etc that break their leg or arm - you want that appendage to be STRAIGHT as it heals).

The interior toe on the left foot will also probably curve a lot as it gets older but that probably won't stop your chicken from enjoying his/her life as it gets older bc that toe seems to be used more for grasping a round roost...

Anyway, congratulations- you got a great chick on your hands!

Great info! Thanks, I wasn't sure about splitting, I'm glad to know how and when now!

 

[Maeschak]

Great info! Thanks, I wasn't sure about splitting, I'm glad to know how and when now!

Hey @Fields Mountain Farm , with the new site I am not sure how to privately message you- so I just wanted to say that your incubator temperatures might be too high- try to check them when you get the chance. Crooked toes are supposedly the result of EITHER two things: (1) genetics, or (2) high temperatures in the incubator.

My first couple of hatches had seriously weird toes, very poor hatch rate, early hatches, and almost all males. So just check out your incubator temperatures.

 

[blogachick]

The interior toe on the left foot will also probably curve a lot as it gets older but that probably won't stop your chicken from enjoying his/her life as it gets older bc that toe seems to be used more for grasping a round roost...

Anyway, congratulations- you got a great chick on your hands!

Thank you once again!!