Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[stoice]

Haven't noticed this before so I wondered if it was a property of the Hemcore I've put in the run but a few of my girls have muddy toes. But not not 'normal' muddy toes, these are great big 'bobbles' of mud rounded and rock-hard set to their toenails. Mostly on Betty's feet so I guess she's the prolific digger. It never used to happen when i had woodchip or straw down (I'm trialling a new bedding material everytime I run out of the previous one) I tried soaking her feet but she eventually got bored of her foot spa so i wrapped her in a towel to stop her squirming (My most flightly girl ) and had to try to pick it off by hand. Got the biggest ones off but i notice this morning some are back again.

 

Anyone else noticed this?

[Paola]

Yes but my girls 'bobbles' are never that big, having said that they have not had them for a while now. It is normal but not sure what to suggest. Am sure somebody else will be along soon

[stoice]

They're about malteser size and i noticed it makes Betty's toes point upwards because of the amount of mud. I wonder if it's the fibrous fine tissues from the hemcore that binds with the mud they dig up?

[Olly]

I don't think it's to do with Hemcore/Aubiose - I have four chooks, and one of them regularly gets this if it's wet and muddy, but the other three are fine! In fact, I think the aubiose keeps their feet drier than otherwise.

 

Get a bowl or bucket of warm water (I use a cat-litter tray) and stand her in it for a few minutes, she will probably protest a bit but if you soak them then they will gradually loosen. Do beware of pulling at them, I did this once and made Hilda's toe bleed I don't know if they do any harm, but I think she must feel more comfortable without them.

[stoice]

I tried soaking them and Betty managed to soak ME instead - you'd think I was killing her she made such a fuss. Then with my mucky fingers i tried slowly chipping away at the mud with my finger nail, this took ages as I too was scared of hurting her or damaging her toes. with the rain we've had since i got them in June this week is the first time it's happened on 3 out of my 4 girls. Just so happens to be the week I first put down hemcore...

[peanut12]

I would suggest 2 of you do it, one hold the chicken and the other work on the bobble. Warm water is a must, but stubborn pieces can be squeezed off using household pliers, providing you work from the side in small sections so as not to pull or squeeze the nail.

[Cinnamon]

All of mine get this - all 13 of them

 

I think it IS to do with the Aubiose - mine certainly never got them when they were on bark, but its a small price to pay for a great floor covering.

 

I pop them off with pliers quite regularly,but they often do need a soak in water first, & it you don't get them when they are small its a nasty,wet,wiggly smelly job.

Cleo & I do chicken pedicures about once every 6 weeks to keep on top of it.The feather footed bants are the worse

 

I did have one a couple of weeks ago which pulled off the whole nail,even though I had hardley put any pressure on it,so I think they can compromise the health of the nail if left to get too long or too big.

I have also noticed that the hens nails are hugely long under the ball of muck.

[Scramble]

My little Lavender Pekin gets this, I wash her feet a lot

I balance her on one hand underneath her and gently massage her feet with my other hand,

She seems to enjoy it!

 

They I dry them with a towel and give her a little cuddle

 

so cute!

 

We use wood chippings, but I think she gets these just beacuse she digs a lot as my other chicken who doesn't dig as much doesn't get these at all.

 

x

[BarbaraJ]

Maybe they need to be on concrete or hard surfaces occasionly to help dislodge it? mine have always been on Aubiose and have only had blobs once when the garden was a mushy mess. not from the aubiose as its generally dry. the do free-range alot though.

[sandyhas3chucks]

this may be a "really" silly suggestion, as I have no idea what you are talking about (read never seen it ) but would an old toothbrush, or battery powered one help get the mud of pre soaked or even while soaking feet

[Sandychick]

Maybe they need to be on concrete or hard surfaces occasionly to help dislodge it? mine have always been on Aubiose and have only had blobs once when the garden was a mushy mess. not from the aubiose as its generally dry. the do free-range alot though.

 

I was just thinking this. Mine used to get the muddy bobbles on their toes and I had forgotten about it as it doesn't happen anymore. I could be completely wrong, but this could be because they now have a slab under the grub (to collect the spilt food). They spend a lot of time at the grub so must be on the slab a lot. It might be helping - their run is a muddy mess right now so I can't think why else this would have stopped happening.

 

I have to admit, I didn't ever wash their feet and just let them get on with it. Feeling quite mean now though!