Silkie chick with defective 5th toes

[Grace11]

Little black fella, 2 weeks old. i knew his toes werent right a week ago, they are xtra long and curled under, rest of toes r normal. Last nite i was cleaning all of their feet, they knock their feed out so it gets in the feet feathers. This teeny birds 5th toes dangle and bend under the foot, while i was cleaning it, one toenail was stuck in the bottom foot. Today, i gave him the curly toe treatment on those bad toes with tape. I just want to know if this is unusual or what? I dont show birds so thats not a problem. U should have seen him, he acted like i had stuck moon boots on him. pretty funny!

 

[Eggcessive]

Toes curled under may be a sign of riboflavin (vitamin B 2) deficiency. I would get the chicks on some poultry vitamins in their water, or give the chick some B Complex ground into his food, such as a little bit of egg. Riboflavin or B2 is found in many foods below plus egg, salmon, and tuna:

Top 10 Vitamin B2 Rich Foods

• 1) Beef liver. 3 oz: 2.9 mg (over 100% DV)
• 2) Lamb. 3 oz: 3.9 mg (over 100% DV)
• 3) Milk. 1 cup: 0.45 mg (26% DV)
• 4) Natural yogurt. 1 cup: 0.57 (34% DV)
• 5) Mushrooms. ½ cup: 0.23 mg (14% DV)
• 6) Spinach. ½ c: 0.21 mg (12% DV)
• 7) Almonds. 1 oz: 0.323 mg (19% DV)
• 8) Sun-dried tomatoes.

Since he is only two weeks, I would use the vitamins, PolyVisol baby vitamins (without iron) or a little plain yogurt or ground beef liver. Most foods other than chick food require chick grit to digest them. The only vitamin I would not use is Poultry NutriDrench which for some reason, has no riboflavin, so check labels. Here is some reading about riboflavin deficiency:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/217/vitamin-b2-deficiency/

 

[Grace11]

Well that makes sense. Hes black and black feathers need more b vits to create them. Doh! As soon as i get home theyll all be enjoying boiled eggs as soon as i can fix them. They did get some salmon already a couple days ago... thanks.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would also get some vitamins too. The shoes may help some. Let us know how he does.