Silkie rear toe, falling on bum

[Chickens-246]

I just hatched some Silikie's and they are about a day old. I have noticed that a few are falling on their bums. At a closer look I see the rear toe is off to one side.

Can someone instruct me on the 'tape boot'? What kind of tape? Several layers for stiffness? Wrap around toe or just flat? How long till the toe is corrected? Is there problems if they eat the tape?

When I inspect their feet and find one's that don't have a rear toe, should they be culled? Or will they learn to balance?
These are pets.

 

[silkiechicken]

Since they are pets, they will learn how to stand on their front toes. Unless their front toes are crooked, they don't need boots and aren't going to help any if it is the toe physically growing at a different place than it normally is. I have a silkie roo who's back toes are fused and about a cm from the ground when he stands. Give them some time and as long as they can still eat, just let them be. Just don't breed these.