New chick has curled toes...

[BuddhaBob]

Just picked up my baby chicks. And it looks like one of my gold wyandottes has a messed up foot. The toes seem to be splayed out and in odd directions. Curled under or laying off to the side. Almost like they're broke but upon handling, they seem okay. They even want to kind of grip around my finger I believe.. Otherwise the chick seems fine it's getting around walking around with the bad foot and such. Contacted the gentleman he sold them to me and he said that it's probably something that'll work yourself out in a couple of days if not he would replace it. Hoping it'll work itself out.

 

[SilverBirds]

The picture is very blurry. Can you post a clearer picture? Curled toes will not correct themselves. You'll need to make it shoes to wear for a few days so that his feet hopefully fix.

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

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/corrective-“shoes”-for-chicks.76391/

 

[Marie2020]

Hello
There are so many knowledgeable people here that may have better suggestions.

I found it to be a positive thing when you said that this little chick is trying too grip onto you.

Personally I don't know if the experts here would agree, but I would let them keep trying to grip onto your fingers and massage their toes as much as possible. Then maybe a little foot soak in some warm water and Epson salt then towel dry after.

Im wish you and your little one good luck. Please keep us updated

 

[RoyalChick]

Curly toes in young chicks is quite likely to be due to vitamin B deficiency. Particularly if there isn’t anything else wrong with the leg.
If so, it is easy to solve with vitamin B supplements from the pharmacy. They are very safe so it is a good idea to try this anyway.
As @SilverBirds said, it is a good idea to tape the toes straight so they don’t get fixed in that position and to stop her getting sores by trying to walk and scraping what should be the tops of her toes.

This thread follows little Bernadette (now big beautiful Bernadette) on her journey to recovery, relapse and then full recovery. You can see what I did in terms of vitamin B supplements as well as taping and splinting her leg.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/3-week-old-chick-with-a-bad-leg-any-advice-please.1519956/

 

[BuddhaBob]

Made a boot with vet tape material and stiff paper. Walking flat footed and seemingly pain free with it on. So I'm feeling positive. All the toes seemed fine, just not stretched out quite enough to stay open. Thanks for the info guys. Going to check out the link to Bernadette and the vitamin supplements. We keep B12 on hand. There's some sweetener in the tablets but I don't think it would be of any consequence.

 

[RoyalChick]

Made a boot with vet tape material and stuff paper. Walking flat footed and seemingly pain free with it on. So I'm feeling positive. All the toes seemed fine, just not stretched out quite enough to stay open. Thanks for the info guys. Going to check out the link to Bernadette and the vitamin supplements. We keep B12 on hand. There's some sweetener in the tablets but I don't think it would be of any consequence.

B12 won’t cut it. Curly toe issues are largely related to B2 deficiency. You can get B complex which has all the Bs at any pharmacy. I got B2 in a dropper bottle on line.

 

[Janice74]

B12 won’t cut it. Curly toe issues are largely related to B2 deficiency. You can get B complex which has all the Bs at any pharmacy. I got B2 in a dropper bottle on line.

I have a 12 hour old chick with curled toes, can I use the b complex and if so, how much and how often? Thank you!

 

[debid]

I have a 12 hour old chick with curled toes, can I use the b complex and if so, how much and how often? Thank you!

It's easier if you buy a vitamin that's labeled for poultry use because dosage instructions don't require math.

But, dosage from Merck is in this post. You will need to check the label to see what the concentration is of B2/riboflavin to determine how to get enough without it being too much. There are toxicity concerns with overdose of.some B vitamins so enough without exponentially too much is important.

Treatment at bottom in red.

Source: http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pou..._poultry/vitamin_deficiencies_in_poultry.html

Riboflavin Deficiency
Many tissues may be affected by riboflavin deficiency, although the epithelium and the myelin sheaths of some of the main nerves are major targets. Changes in the sciatic nerves produce “curled-toe” paralysis in growing chickens. Egg production is affected, and riboflavin-deficient eggs do not hatch. When chicks are fed a diet deficient in riboflavin, their appetite is fairly good but they grow slowly, become weak and emaciated, and develop diarrhea between the first and second weeks. Deficient chicks are reluctant to move unless forced and then frequently walk on their hocks with the aid of their wings. The leg muscles are atrophied and flabby, and the skin is dry and harsh. In advanced stages of deficiency, the chicks lie prostrate with their legs extended, sometimes in opposite directions. The characteristic sign of riboflavin deficiency is a marked enlargement of the sciatic and brachial nerve sheaths; sciatic nerves usually show the most pronounced effects. Histologic examination of the affected nerves shows degenerative changes in the myelin sheaths that, when severe, pinch the nerve. This produces a permanent stimulus, which causes the curled-toe paralysis.
Signs of riboflavin deficiency in the hen are decreased egg production, increased embryonic mortality, and an increase in size and fat content of the liver. Hatchability declines within 2 wk when hens are fed a riboflavin-deficient diet, but returns to near normal when riboflavin is restored. Affected embryos are dwarfed and show characteristically defective “clubbed” down. The nervous system of these embryos shows degenerative changes much like those described in riboflavin-deficient chicks.
Signs of riboflavin deficiency first appear at 10 days of incubation, when embryos become hypoglycemic and accumulate intermediates of fatty acid oxidation. Although flavin-dependent enzymes are depressed with riboflavin deficiency, the main effect seems to be impaired fatty acid oxidation, which is a critical function in the developing embryo. An autosomal recessive trait blocks the formation of the riboflavin-binding protein needed for transport of riboflavin to the egg. While the adults appear normal, their eggs fail to hatch regardless of dietary riboflavin content. As eggs become deficient in riboflavin, the egg albumen loses its characteristic yellow color. In fact, albumen color score has been used to assess riboflavin status of birds.
Chicks receiving diets only partially deficient in riboflavin may recover spontaneously, indicating that the requirement rapidly decreases with age. A 100-μg dose should be sufficient for treatment of riboflavin-deficient chicks, followed by incorporation of an adequate level in the diet. However, when the curled-toe deformity is longstanding, irreparable damage occurs in the sciatic nerve, and the administration of riboflavin is no longer curative.
Most diets contain up to 10 mg riboflavin/kg. Treatment can be given as two 100 μg doses for chicks or poults, followed by an adequate amount of riboflavin in feed.

-Kathy

 

[RoyalChick]

I have a 12 hour old chick with curled toes, can I use the b complex and if so, how much and how often? Thank you!

I have no experience of giving something to a 12 hour chick but those chick vitamins like Save-a-chick that can be put in their water are packed with B vitamins.
Also, per my vet, don’t worry too much about overdosing - B vitamins are water soluble and don’t build up in the tissues they just pass any excess out each day in their poop.