Chicken poop on their feet

[Shogun99]

Hello all. I noticed that my baby chicks are getting a lot of chicken poop caked to their feet and its starting to build up. What I have done for the last 3 days is inspect them and then pick it off since it has hardened. Its a tad gross, but I don't mind doing it, but the Chicks certainly DO mind. They whine when I pull it off and I think it hurts them a tad.

Does anyone have any advice they could give me regarding them stepping in poop? How to control it? Better ways to get it off of their feet? Should I just let it build up and it will fall off eventually?

((Still a Newbie))

 

[hinkjc]

Typically chicks will dig around enough that they clean their own feet or stir the poop under, so they are not walking on it. If you are having to pick it off, then I'd say the bedding is not deep enough or clean enough. Add more shavings more often and see if that helps. Or do a complete clean out of the brooder and start over fresh. Poop on the feet can burn their skin, so keeping it clean is important.

Jody

 

[ravenfeathers]

try a different bedding. i've been using peat moss and i love it. the poop dries up really quickly and doesn't stick to anything, including feet. it's also way less smelly, although the resultant dust in the brooder area is black, black, black. even at three weeks old, i'm still only cleaning the brooder once per week and it's not foul or icky at all. i can't smell chickens in the house, which is a good thing.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

What are you using in the bottom of the brooder? That may have something to do with it. Or, they might be too crowded or the litter may be too dirty. I'll just tell you what I do, in case it helps you.

When they're on paper towels the first 2 days, I put clean paper down several times a day, where needed. Once a day I clean all the paper out and start with a clean layer.

After 2 days, I take up the paper towels and they are on wood shavings. I put in enough to cover the bottom and enough so that it isn't shifting around. I sprinkle a little fresh shavings over any dirtier areas, between cleanings. This helps keep things cleaner.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

My girls are all on pine shavings and their poop is hard pellet looking poo so it never sticks to their feet. What are u feeding them? Just plain water?

 

[banter]

Pick each chick up and dip their feet in a bowl of (at least a quart) of warm water with a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide and a few drops of dish soap and soak them for for a minute or so. Do not chill them. wipe feet with paper towels and change the litter. I use straw-no fumes. If they are young put paper towels on top and change them often.