I am a new egg and this is my first post seeking advice. The first of November we impulsively purchased (well I caved in to my children but secretly I wanted them, too. I just blame the kids. Its easier) 6 chicks and 6 keets from a farm and ranch supply store. The day they were purchased, the store was out of starter food. I went back 2 days later and bought a 50 lb bag of game bird starter and a 50 lb bag of medicated (Amprolium) chick starter. Both bags were Atwoods Ranch Pro feed. I poured them both in a large container and mixed it up. The next day when I opened the can, the crumbles were teeming with weevils. I was disappointed but thought oh well. More protein and I removed the container from the barn so it wouldnt infest my other feed containers.
I hoped the overnight freezing temperatures would kill off the weevils and continued to feed the chicks and keets this feed.
Fast forward just over 3 weeks. My son brings Big Bertha inside from the brooder (a 3/4 covered huge stock tank in the barn with 2 inches of pine shavings and 2 red heat lamps) and says Berthas toes are curly! Now I am new to this chicken stuff, so I was totally clueless, but I knew it wasnt good.
About Big Bertha: We were told she was an Ameraucana and maybe a pullet. She was yellow with white feathering. No one knew how old the chicks and keets were, and since they were all that were left, they were all from several different shipment dates. Bertha was halfway feathered when we purchased her. She is a big gal. (or roo. Did I mention that I am somewhat clueless?) She is now totally feathered and white. I would guess her to be 8-10 weeks old.
She did not have any toe or foot issues until last week.
Okay. From researching this awesome site and reading what books I could get my hands on, I think this may have happened because of inferior feed. I didnt check the dates on either bag plus I continued to feed them the crumbles, weevils and all. I really dont know WHY it happened, but that is my best guess. Any clues?
What I have done since: She is in our house being watched carefully by Zeus, the stinky mastiff (for those who read my intro.) Immediately I purchased new chick starter. I bought Kickin Chicken and water soluble vitamin and electrolytes mix. (everyone is still out of game bird starter. Why?) All of the chicks and keets are getting the supplements even though none of the others are showing any signs of twisted toes. The night Berthas twisted toes (both feet) were discovered, I made shoes for her to straighten out her toes. I used first aid tape and duct tape with thin cardboard. She wore those shoes for 3 days. I took them off and cleaned her feet. Her toes didnt twist when she stretched her leg while lying down, but as soon as she relaxed they twisted and sort of curled (like a talon?). Its like two of her toes were twisted and the pad of the toe is now on the side. My husband helped me make new shoes. This time we wrapped her toes with gauze then tape. My husband should have mentioned that he had a couple of nips of whiskey prior to helping me with this delicate chore, but needless to say she now has her second pair of shoes on.
Is this too much? I am trying to be thorough but it seems like I am giving way too much information.
I will post pics once my newness wears off. (this was my 10th post, so my new user smell is wearing off! See pics below!)
Bottom line. Will she go back to normal? What can I do? What am I doing wrong? How long in shoes? What if they never untwist? Is she in pain? Etc.
Thank you for taking the time to read all of that, if you made it this far!
I hoped the overnight freezing temperatures would kill off the weevils and continued to feed the chicks and keets this feed.
Fast forward just over 3 weeks. My son brings Big Bertha inside from the brooder (a 3/4 covered huge stock tank in the barn with 2 inches of pine shavings and 2 red heat lamps) and says Berthas toes are curly! Now I am new to this chicken stuff, so I was totally clueless, but I knew it wasnt good.
About Big Bertha: We were told she was an Ameraucana and maybe a pullet. She was yellow with white feathering. No one knew how old the chicks and keets were, and since they were all that were left, they were all from several different shipment dates. Bertha was halfway feathered when we purchased her. She is a big gal. (or roo. Did I mention that I am somewhat clueless?) She is now totally feathered and white. I would guess her to be 8-10 weeks old.
She did not have any toe or foot issues until last week.
Okay. From researching this awesome site and reading what books I could get my hands on, I think this may have happened because of inferior feed. I didnt check the dates on either bag plus I continued to feed them the crumbles, weevils and all. I really dont know WHY it happened, but that is my best guess. Any clues?
What I have done since: She is in our house being watched carefully by Zeus, the stinky mastiff (for those who read my intro.) Immediately I purchased new chick starter. I bought Kickin Chicken and water soluble vitamin and electrolytes mix. (everyone is still out of game bird starter. Why?) All of the chicks and keets are getting the supplements even though none of the others are showing any signs of twisted toes. The night Berthas twisted toes (both feet) were discovered, I made shoes for her to straighten out her toes. I used first aid tape and duct tape with thin cardboard. She wore those shoes for 3 days. I took them off and cleaned her feet. Her toes didnt twist when she stretched her leg while lying down, but as soon as she relaxed they twisted and sort of curled (like a talon?). Its like two of her toes were twisted and the pad of the toe is now on the side. My husband helped me make new shoes. This time we wrapped her toes with gauze then tape. My husband should have mentioned that he had a couple of nips of whiskey prior to helping me with this delicate chore, but needless to say she now has her second pair of shoes on.
Is this too much? I am trying to be thorough but it seems like I am giving way too much information.
I will post pics once my newness wears off. (this was my 10th post, so my new user smell is wearing off! See pics below!)
Bottom line. Will she go back to normal? What can I do? What am I doing wrong? How long in shoes? What if they never untwist? Is she in pain? Etc.
Thank you for taking the time to read all of that, if you made it this far!
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