Quail foot problem at hatch - fixable or cull?

[SweetieChicken234]

 

[Nabiki]

I can't really tell from the picture. Is it purely curled toes, or is the leg malpositioned as well?

If it's curled toes, it doesn't look too bad and should probably straighten out by itself. If you don't see improvement in the next 8-12 hours, you can use painter's tape to tape the toes straight and that should fix it within 12-24 hours.

If the leg itself is malpositioned, it's probably better to cull.

 

[SweetieChicken234]

I can't really tell from the picture. Is it purely curled toes, or is the leg malpositioned as well?

If it's curled toes, it doesn't look too bad and should probably straighten out by itself. If you don't see improvement in the next 8-12 hours, you can use painter's tape to tape the toes straight and that should fix it within 12-24 hours.

If the leg itself is malpositioned, it's probably better to cull.

Looks like ankle problem. The foot is positioned up at the ankle and it looks kind of red and swollen.

 

[SweetieChicken234]

Looks like ankle problem. The foot is positioned up at the ankle and it looks kind of red and swollen.

I have a video of it. Let me upload it. That might help.

 

[SweetieChicken234]

Quail foot problem

 

[Nabiki]

That doesn't look good. I don't think it can be fixed with a rubber band or a shot glass. It's your decision, but I would cull.

 

[Kiki]

That doesn't look good. I don't think it can be fixed with a rubber band or a shot glass. It's your decision, but I would cull.

I would end it's suffering too.

 

[catesquire]

I would give it until it dries out/fluffs up to see if it can sort itself out. During my last hatch one of mine seemed very twisted up straight from the egg but I think they just sprained something trying to hatch, and they noticably improved over the next few hours as they were able to stretch out (and by the 24 hour mark, I couldn't even tell which chick it had been). It's pooossible that the same could happen with yours. But agreed with everyone else that it doesn't look good, so if there's no improvement over the coming hours, culling might be necessary. Good luck! Looks like a very lively hatch otherwise

 

[SweetieChicken234]

I would give it until it dries out/fluffs up to see if it can sort itself out. During my last hatch one of mine seemed very twisted up straight from the egg but I think they just sprained something trying to hatch, and they noticably improved over the next few hours as they were able to stretch out (and by the 24 hour mark, I couldn't even tell which chick it had been). It's pooossible that the same could happen with yours. But agreed with everyone else that it doesn't look good, so if there's no improvement over the coming hours, culling might be necessary. Good luck! Looks like a very lively hatch otherwise

Yeah I'm going to give it just a bit of time to see how it does first. I had a quail with curled toes and after 24 hours learning to walk it fixed itself.