Need advice - 8 week old chick with curled toe

[dawn secord]

Hi all, I just obtained a few silkie chicks to add to my small flock. They are approx 8 weeks old. One has a curled toe - I knew that coming in but I loved her color. It is only one toe that is curled under the entire foot. I have hatched babies with this condition in the past but fixed it with a boot immediately. The chicks turned out just fine. I have never had a chick this old with it. I can gently bend the toe back into place. I was thinking of trying a boot. If not, I'll take her to the vet for advice. Any one ever fix a toe at this age? Thank you so much in advance.

 

[Debbie292d]

I would still try the "boot" method. We've fixed two here with a little piece of thin cardboard and taped its toes to that. It only takes a day to fix when they are just a day or two old.

With yours being that old, they technically are still growing so maybe this idea would still work. You'd have to do it pretty hefty now that this is a larger bird though.

During this time I'd give them all vitamin water, ie. Poultry Cell or Nutra-Drench.

Here's another method that might give you some ideas.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...s-with-tape-picture-tutorial-and-video.75247/

 

[dawn secord]

I would still try the "boot" method. We've fixed two here with a little piece of thin cardboard and taped its toes to that. It only takes a day to fix when they are just a day or two old.

With yours being that old, they technically are still growing so maybe this idea would still work. You'd have to do it pretty hefty now that this is a larger bird though.

During this time I'd give them all vitamin water, ie. Poultry Cell or Nutra-Drench.

Here's another method that might give you some ideas.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...s-with-tape-picture-tutorial-and-video.75247/

Thank you so much for the reply. I have a boot on her. It has been on her about 10 days now. It is thin cardboard with soft rubber padding between the cardboard and her toes. I change it every three days. Each change, I spread her toe further from the others but still a natural position. When I take the boot off, the toe stays out correctly. My guess is that it is working. I am going to wait and give it more time and hopefully the tendons and other parts of the foot are developing a memory of the toe in a proper placement. Will keep you posted.

 

[Debbie292d]

Thank you so much for the reply. I have a boot on her. It has been on her about 10 days now. It is thin cardboard with soft rubber padding between the cardboard and her toes. I change it every three days. Each change, I spread her toe further from the others but still a natural position. When I take the boot off, the toe stays out correctly. My guess is that it is working. I am going to wait and give it more time and hopefully the tendons and other parts of the foot are developing a memory of the toe in a proper placement. Will keep you posted.

This is so hopeful! So good to know. Please do keep us posted as it will be informative to share to someone with a similar situation!

 

[dawn secord]

This is so hopeful! So good to know. Please do keep us posted as it will be informative to share to someone with a similar situation!

Absolutely. I have show dogs and know that their growth plates develop over time and close as they mature. Figured it had to be the same with any air breathing critter. Her toe was just like a hatchling, bendable without resistance - so, giving it a go. Hopeful!