4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Luvachicken]

Today I gave all my younger chickens a cuddle so I could inspect their feet. Lucie had perfect feet of course because she is not a pekin, but the others were very dirty. Their fluffy feathers on their feet I'm not too worried about, but more worried about some mud balls that seem to be stuck to Gemma's 'skirt' - not sure what those feathers are called, but at the top of her legs that are quite long.

I did try and break the mud balls off as best I could and they were quite small, but then I am not a little pekin so the balls might be big to them.

 

Is it best to take the mud balls off or leave them for the girls to peck off for themselves ?

[charly1979]

Within days of getting Annie and Clarabel my pekins I had a cuddle only to find that Clarabel had two large (well small but big in comparison to her) pebbles stuck to her undercarraige ! I tried to gently remove them but they were caked in mud etc so I snipped them off (closer to the pebble side than the her) Mind you she didnt seemed phased by the extra load she was carrying at the moment she seems ok and I havent found anymore pebbles since. Annie is filthy but I suppose thats due to her being white

Edited December 28, 2012 by Guest

[mimi5]

Yes, I had that problem last winter and I did the same, gently pulled them off or snipped them off. This year the wood chip has meant NO mud balls, horray! Roll on spring!!!!!!!

[Egluntyne]

I give them a good soak, and then snip and ease them off as best as I can every so often.

[Redwing]

If a good soak doesnt shift them then try squeezing them gently with a pair of pliers, this loosens them from the nail and they can be slid off

 

I must admit that with the amount of chooks I have I squeeze the mud balls with my teeth to loosen them, its very easy if a bit eughhh to think about!

[Luvachicken]

I can see why you do it with your teeth Redwing, as it's quite difficult holding the chicken safely and using scissors.

At least with your teeth you still have 2 hands on the chicken.

Not sure I'd do it with my teeth though.