bent toes

[chickenfan]

I had a chick hatch from bought-in eggs with curled toes a couple of weeks ago. I have been busy putting cardboard shoes and sticking plasters on the feet. It requires a neighbour or friend to come and hold the chick each time for quite a lengthy operation, the the whole thing seems to fall off within hours. I've got a bit desperate. One foot is particularly bad and I feel I ought to have righted it by now, but don't seem to have enough hours in the day to keep reapplying the shoes. The chick is from line-bred parents. I am wondering whether to keep pursuing the correction or whether to let it go, and what other people's experience is with this? It seems healthy apart from the curled over feet.

 

[dinosaw]

Not had curled toes myself so hard to advise, if it was going to work I would have thought it would have worked by now and the older the chick gets the chances of remedying the situation get slimmer as the bones grow. In future if it happens to you again it is said a large increase in Riboflavin in the chicks diet in the first couple of days can right the situation and the toes will uncurl themselves as this problem is caused by a deficiency in the vitamin.

 

[Marigold]

Hi Chickenfan, did you read the 'sticky' post at the top of the list in this section of the forum, ie Tygresek's link to an article about splayed legs and curled toe syndrome? Might be helpful.

 

[chickenfan]

Thanks Dinosaw and Marigold. I saw about Riboflavin and gave a vitamin supplement for the first days, but didn't have much idea about dosage. I think I've not been vigilant enough about reapplying the cardboard shoe (as per Tygresek's article) quickly enough each time it came off. So long as I can maintain the bad foot in a flat state, I think she will be OK with wonky toes. It needs to be something I can do on my own without waiting for neighbours to call, and I can get the foot flat myself.

 

[chrismahon]

As far as I know it is caused by a vitamin B deficiency in the breeding hen Chickenfan, so she will be fine long term as long as you can correct the current problem. I've seen it done with wire and sticking plaster.

 

[chickenfan]

Thanks Chris. I'll perhaps try some cocktail sticks to get the toes straighter. I'm finding it a fiddly business. Lack of Riboflavin in pregnant women causes heart and limb defects too.