Yay we have 8 BCMs and 6 CLBs but Houston, we have problem... HELP needed

[Rosy Starling]

Three weeks ago today I hatched my first batch of 8 Black Copper Marans and 6 Cream Legbars. I was elated to get a 100% hatch with the BCMs & 75% with the CLBs with 4 girls and 2 boys. Wow was I was blessed!

However, soon after hatching I noticed one of the CLBs was walking on her ankles with her toes curled up underneath her. As she was a female I really wanted to save her so I went on backyard chickens and determined she had Curly Toe Paralysis, which is apparently brought about by a riboflavin (vitamin B2) deficiency (I can only imagine by in her mother or father as she was born this way). Anyway, I promptly made her some cardboard shoes with matchstick splints and ordered some Vitamin B complex in liquid form. I placed her with a rather lovely BCM who also had a toe issue where her far right toe was positioned under her middle toe making walking difficult. I also put shoes on this little one and after 1 week she was completely cured. She has been looking after the CLB and giving her some company away from the rest of the rabble who, by the way are all very well with no sign of any vitamin deficiency.

The little CLB female wore the shoes for longer than they state on the internet as her feet were so bad but I gave her 2 nights off during this time for her to have a rest and for me to have time to make her new ones (I had to use glue which needed time to set). After 10 days her toes looked like they were straightening out a bit, not fully but much better, so I removed them completely. Sadly after a few days her toes have started to curly again, not underneath her like before but more like Catherine Wheels.

I made her some more shoes and tried to put them on. However, this time she closed her eyes rolled over with her feet in the air and did a good impression of dying. I stopped immediately gave her some Nutri Drops and resigned myself to the fact she would either manage or not. I have been giving her Vitamin B complex in her water every day and every other day scrambled egg. Sadly her toes are still bad. My question is this, is it too late to try again with another set of shoes? I know when they are very young their bones are not yet fully hardened but now she is 3 weeks old so not sure if there is any point in hurting here to place another set or if there is anything else I can do for her. She is eating, drinking and manages to walk but is a little unsteady when jumping off a perch and walking on uneven ground. Any suggestions would be most welcome. I have also noticed her left eye keeps closing. I cannot see anything in it, or any injury. She does scratch it with her curly toes every once in a while too. I have included a few photos.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It could be genetic it is often a problem in incubation related to high or low incubator temperature. It can also be from inadequate breeder nutrition or smooth bottom hatching trays.
For breeder nutrition, deficiencies of riboflavin and B12 can cause curled toes.
The bird can live a fairly decent life but I wouldn't use it for breeding in case it is genetic.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Looks more like Crooked toes to me.
Research Crooked Toes vs. Curled Toe Paralysis.

Here's a couple of links to get you started
https://poultrykeeper.com/skeletal-and-muscular-disorders/crooked-toes/
https://poultrykeeper.com/skeletal-and-muscular-disorders/curled-toes/

 

[Rosy Starling]

It could be genetic it is often a problem in incubation related to high or low incubator temperature. It can also be from inadequate breeder nutrition or smooth bottom hatching trays.
For breeder nutrition, deficiencies of riboflavin and B12 can cause curled toes.
The bird can live a fairly decent life but I wouldn't use it for breeding in case it is genetic.

Thank you ChickenCanoe, I have 6 CLBs and they may have come from different mothers but equally some could be her siblings and no others are showing a similar problem. I incubated using the Brinsea Maxi EX incubator which regulates the temperature and humidity and I trust it completely. This is the first problem I have had. I think it must be a breeder nutritional problem. I will not use her for breeding but just want to make her future bright and happy

 

[Rosy Starling]

Looks more like Crooked toes to me.
Research Crooked Toes vs. Curled Toe Paralysis.

Here's a couple of links to get you started
https://poultrykeeper.com/skeletal-and-muscular-disorders/crooked-toes/
https://poultrykeeper.com/skeletal-and-muscular-disorders/curled-toes/

Thank you Wyorp Rock, I will definitely take a look at the above links. I should have explained that the pictures are of how she looks today, not of how she looked when she was born. When she was born they were curled up under her like all the pictures of Curled Toe Paralysis you see on the internet. They now look like this due to the shoes I made her. Sadly I didn't take a picture of how she looked when she was born. When she was born I noticed she was hobbling on her ankles with her toes curled under and facing backwards so to speak. She couldn't stand properly & certainly would not have been able to feed herself. The minute I put the shoes on her she was able to stand & feed. Since removing the shoes her toes are like this, she really needs new shoes to straighten the toes but Im wondering if its worth putting her through another set.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hard to know if they can be corrected more at her age or not. You could try I suppose, but if it seems painful to her, then I would take the shoes back off.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Feet like that often happen in a protracted hatch from prolonged pushing to escape the egg.