new brown leghorn's deformed feet

[LeviParker]

i got two new brown leghorn hens and one of them has deformed feet. her toes curve to the sides. i have heard of chicks having feet problems.. did she and the previous owner not do anything?

 

[Eggcessive]

This is fairly common, and is usually hereditary, although many will tell you that uneven incubator temperature can cause it. Most of these chickens live fairly normal lives, but sometimes they have trouble grasping a round roost at night. The flat side of a 2X4 makes a better roost. Also you may occasionally have to trim their nails. Please don't breed them, or you will probably get more crooked toes. If you tape them by a couple of days old, sometimes you can fix them.

 

[LeviParker]

oh i see! i have 2x4 roosts!

 

[Eggcessive]

2x4 roosts are better at preventing frostbite this time of year than smaller round ones. I have a couple of hens with crooked toes and they do fine.