Selfsufficientish.com

Hi all,

So, as I try to get the hang of my new life as guardian of 4 hens, I noticed something funny about the foot of one of my chickens today. I've only had them since Wednesday, but my Brown Nick seems to have a very wonky toe. I don't know any technical terminology for chickens' feet, so this will be in layman's terms! Of the three funny long toe things that face the front of the foot, the innermost one is sort of bent half way, with the top half of it (the bit with the claw on the end) just looking sort of floppy. It doesn't really grip the ground when she walks, and it twists off to the side. Is it broken?!! She is pottering around quite happily and eating well, and isn't getting in any brawls or anything, so how could this happen?

I'm not sure if she came like that as I have only just noticed it, about 48 hours after getting them home. I didn't really get much say in which birds I got from the farm - the bloke just kind of grabbed them out of this massive chicken shed and lobbed them in my boxes, so I couldn't have a look at them first. Well, I wouldn't have known what to be looking for anyhow! She was the most shy of the 4 when I got them home - she just hid in the corner of the run at first while the others were exploring, but she has been very friendly ever since and was the first to figure out how to use the little ladder thing in and out of the house.

But none of the other chickens have a toe that looks broken half way, so I'm guessing it's not supposed to look like that. And what can I do about it? Should I take her to a chicken-friendly vet, or just let her be??

2 days in, and one of my hens is already broken. I'm a terrible mother

they can be born with wonky toes yes.. we have one.. and we had one chick who's feet were curled over really badly so we had to cull it .

to be honest - if she seems fine, then I would jsut keep and eye and see how it goes.. just my opinion

I know how you feel cos when I got my last two at first I had to put them in with the ducks (which we'd just got at the same time). When it came time to catch the two hens and put them in with the older hens in the ensuing mayhem one of them lost a claw and she limped for several weeks after that, and I felt sooooo awful, especially as she was having to run away hobbling from the oldies at the same time!

I agree with what Red says, if she seems fine then she probably is, even if it is, or was, broken. If she isn't limping or appearing dejected then I'm sure she will be OK.

OK, thank you. I'll keep an eye on her. The fact that she doesn't appear to be in any discomfort suggests to me that perhaps it happened ages ago and has now healed in its, urm, alternative position. She is fast proving to be the friendliest of my 4 hens, so she's obviously not angry with me

It may have been deformed from birth. My neighbour had a whole batch hatch with deformed feet. I gather it's actually quite common. Sadly they couldn't walk properly and had to be culled. I agree that if she seems otherwise OK, best to leave well alone.

Zoe