How to help this button? Curled toes? Malpositioned.

[Carterborchers]

I had a group of 20 eggs shipped to me from eBay (supposedly laid by all white button pairs). They were packed well, and any cracks looked like they were maybe stepped on by the other birds.

BUT—these eggs didn’t look right to me when I candled them…the ones I could see through. Lots of bubbles. I think they were badly shaken and was prepared for most not to hatch. This morning, three healthy ones had hatched. And also this guy…which I assisted. His beak and head were out, ans well as a leg and foot under the air cell. The membrane I could feel was hard and getting harder. When I freed him, he was so tangled that I was surprised he was able to unfold his body. His little legs curled up at the bottom of his butt, and seemed like he had no control of them. Toes look curled? He looked like he was going to pass away. He wasn’t moving or chirping, he was gasping every time he breathed. I put him under the heat plate to be comfortable, and when I checked on him again, he was more lively and pedaling his legs, but unable to get up and go anywhere.

He’s still lethargic, but if he makes it, what do I do??? Can he be helped? I’ve heard of taping curled toes, but his feet are so tiny and his toes are all bunched together. I’ve hatched maybe 100 eggs, and never had a deformity to deal with or reason to cull… which I don’t think I can do.

I’ve decided not to assist any more from this group…he’s not the only one who pipped in the wrong spot.

 

[Carterborchers]

Here’s a pic

 

[Nabiki]

Normally I would say straighten out the toes with tape, but this one looks pretty bad. You can try the tape, but buttons are so tiny it's very difficult to get shoes on them. If it doesn't look better in 6-12 hours, I would cull.

 

[Carterborchers]

I have to try. I helped one with one more-mild curly toes. Another is scooting his head on the floor now. These were shipped eggs—I usually have 100% hatch rate with my own birds’ eggs.

 

[Carterborchers]

Look who’s standing up and walking! If I can’t see the tape, I’m not sure which one he is. I’m taking it off tomorrow morning. I’m guessing it may take a day for his legs to be a little stronger (he just started standing up today rather than crawling and scurrying), but I hope it works because I can’t cull a little chick. And now I’m attached to “Curly.” I didn’t mean for that to happen, but I’ve been handling him a lot, trying to make sure he drinks emeraid from the vet for extra nutrition out of my palm and try to move his legs and get him climbing on my lap on an electric blanket for “exercise.”

 

[CliftonQuail]

Happy to see the chick is so much better. You did an amazing job taping those tiny feet. I've done it with coturnix, but have no experience with the much smaller buttons.

 

[Carterborchers]

It took two of us… I felt like I was going to break something with his squirming. I’m removing the tape today, which I’m sure will be just as fun. I hope it worked. I’m cautiously optimistic. Maybe he can just live with little shoes on. Lol

 

[Carterborchers]

One off, and wow! He’s snuggling in my sleeve while we take a break after getting the first taped shoe off. Getting the tape off without him “crying” is just as hard as getting it on. I’m soaking it first. We haven’t tried walking yet, but I was so excited to show off his progress!

 

[Carterborchers]

Straight toes! He got up, a little wobbly, but already walking! Woo hoo!

 

[catesquire]

Congratulations! Great job treating him