Balls of dirt on toes?

[SunflowerTheBun]

Hi all,

Not exactly an emergency but still would like some answers please.
My 4 chicks and their mum have balls of dirt on their feet. Some kind of build up I imagine...
I try to remove them with just my hands but I don't want to hurt them and they seem pretty stuck.
The Chicks have been in the world about 2 months now and I think they've been able to pry this stuff of their toes by themselves. So I'm wondering if I should intervene?
The funny thing is that my other hen and rooster don't have them, it's just the chicks and their mum. Any ideas what's causing this, should I be worried and does it hurt?
It's not on all their toes either, just some. It varies, really.

- Sunny

 

[Wyorp Rock]

You will probably need to soak their feet in warm water to soften the poop balls.
Depending on the level of "build up" you may need to do it over the course of several days.

While chickens will naturally walk through all types of things and can get a small amount of mud/debris/poop stuck on their toes, generally they should remain relatively clean. This will help avoid future problems like infection, feet deformities, etc.


http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2014/03/when-baby-chicks-need-pedicure-manure.html

 

[SunflowerTheBun]

Okay, thanks for the info! I'll keep an eye on it.