Peachick with curled toes.

[Max0815]

I am incubating peacock eggs, at about 37.5 Celsius, and 30% humidity. This try wasn't so successful, but there was one egg that started to "chirp" three days ago. On the second day, he pecked out a little piece of the eggshell, but he wouldn't go further than that, so I helped him a bit, and peeled the eggshell off a bit(just a half circle) in the "circle" the chicks usually peck to get out. Turns out on the third day when I was checking the eggs, she only pecked two new holes in the membrane, and made no further progress. I then decided to manually help him. I peeled the circle complete, and also peeled off the membrane, and he was literally struggling to get out. After he got out, I held him, and while I did, I noticed that he was really weak, couldn't really lift his head, didn't drink water, or eat food, even when I acted it out with my fingers, which worked on the last brood. He also had curled toes on both feet, and it was really obvious. He couldn't stand on his feet, and always fell to his side or back. So now I have some questions. Was my temp or humidity off? Why didn't he get out by himself? Was staying three days in the egg making his toes curled? Would the toes straighten out by themselves? Or do I need to make the bandaid cast? Is there anything wrong I did? FYI the chick just got out an hour ago.

 

[sylviethecochin]

From what you describe, it's likely to be a vitamin deficiency, specifically riboflavin.

I'd mash up a vitamin B complex tablet and add it to the water, as well as using a band-aid cast on the foot.

From Merck:
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 the diet is inadvertently devoid of the entire spectrum of vitamins, it is signs of riboflavin deficiency that first appear. 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 hens 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. Clubbed down is periodically seen in cases of poor hatchability, when the “reject” chicks or dead embryos show this condition, even though the breeder diet is apparently adequate in riboflavin. Anecdotal evidence suggests greater occurrence of this clubbed-down condition in farms that select “floor-eggs” for incubation.

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. Although 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-mcg 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 of riboflavin/kg. Treatment can be given as two sequential daily 100-mcg doses for chicks or poults, followed by an adequate amount of riboflavin in feed.

 

[Featheredfluffs]

I’ve heard curled toes is humidity problems

 

[sylviethecochin]

I’ve heard curled toes is humidity problems

Sometimes--but in my experience*, it's usually only one foot (or one leg twisted around at the hip--had that a couple years back) if that's the case.

*This experience is from broodies that were brooding in really high humidity. I don't incubate.

 

[Max0815]

Ok, thanks for the help!

 

[Max0815]

Is any type of vitamin b tablet okay. Or does it have to be labled "for a bird"?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Is any type of vitamin b tablet okay. Or does it have to be labled "for a bird"?

I use regular B-complex tablets for people. You can also pick up riboflavin tablets at WalMart. Or you can go the feed store and pick up B complex injectable.

A lot of poultry vitamin supplements aren't heavy on B's. I suspect that this is because they're some of the few water-soluble vitamins.

 

[Max0815]

Oh, okay. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Flamens Farm]

Sylviethecochin, that was very informative, thank you for all that information. Seems I have at least one chick that hatches with this problem in every incubation, not only with the chickens but also with the guineas. I immediately put a brace on the legs, separate it from the others and constantly help it to stand on its own, drink and eat. So far have been very lucky that each has survived. I have one from this incubation that I am working with now. Not sure about its survival rate yet, day 2 but it was a chick I had to help out of the egg, it pipped in the middle of the egg. Fingers crossed that it makes it!

 

[sylviethecochin]

Sylviethecochin, that was very informative, thank you for all that information. Seems I have at least one chick that hatches with this problem in every incubation, not only with the chickens but also with the guineas. I immediately put a brace on the legs, separate it from the others and constantly help it to stand on its own, drink and eat. So far have been very lucky that each has survived. I have one from this incubation that I am working with now. Not sure about its survival rate yet, day 2 but it was a chick I had to help out of the egg, it pipped in the middle of the egg. Fingers crossed that it makes it!

Still can't guarantee that riboflavin deficiency is the problem, but it does seem likely.
If that's the case, I would begin supplementing B vitamins to your breeding flocks. I did and my hatch rates improved noticeably.