Feathered feet cleaning?

[ChickenChick46]

This baby has got some serious feathers coming in on his or her feet. I check them several times a day to make sure there's no poop stuck in the feathers. One of its brooder mates has feathered legs too, but that one has nothing on this little guy or gal!

Is there anything specific I need to do to make sure its feet stay clean and healthy at this point, other than checking them closely for poop?

Thank you!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I've never cleaned feather footed birds. Keeping the bedding clean, and dry is the best thing. A healthy bird will preen and keep itself mostly clean.

 

[ChickenChick46]

I've never cleaned feather footed birds. Keeping the bedding clean, and dry is the best thing. A healthy bird will preen and keep itself mostly clean.

I definitely do that. And I clean that brooder plate top obsessively. Thank you!

 

[thecatumbrella]

I've never cleaned feather footed birds. Keeping the bedding clean, and dry is the best thing. A healthy bird will preen and keep itself mostly clean.

I must be doing something wrong, because this has not been my experience since the bantams left the brooder. No one else seems to have this problem!

I'm guessing it depends on the breed. My d'Uccle is only moderately feather-footed, and she does fine. The Cochin Bantams practically have fishing nets on their legs and feet; they tangle anything organic, including mulch and poo. It doesn't seem to matter how clean and dry their run is.

I strongly recommend getting a pair of children's safety haircutting scissors (this is what I bought). Hopefully you never have to use them, but mine have been invaluable and much less stressful on the Cochins than weekly foot baths. Do be very mindful where you're snipping to avoid any blood-filled quills. Edit: I only trim the down around whatever is tangled.

 

[ChickenChick46]

I must be doing something wrong, because this has not been my experience since the bantams left the brooder. No one else seems to have this problem!

I'm guessing it depends on the breed. My d'Uccle is only moderately feather-footed, and she does fine. The Cochin Bantams practically have fishing nets on their legs and feet; they tangle anything organic, including mulch and poo. It doesn't seem to matter how clean and dry their run is.

I strongly recommend getting a pair of children's safety haircutting scissors (this is what I bought). Hopefully you never have to use them, but mine have been invaluable and much less stressful on the Cochins than weekly foot baths. Do be very mindful where you're snipping to avoid any blood-filled quills. I only trim the down.

My neighbor has brahmas, and she's forever cleaning feet, lol. So I don't think you're doing anything wrong!

This is good advice! My cochin has less feathers on its feet, but this little one has a ton! Its feet look double the size they actually are, and it's all feathers!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have over 60 feather footed birds running around here without problems. Maybe I'm not looking close enough. I haven't seen a problem.

 

[ChickenChick46]

I have over 60 feather footed birds running around here without problems. Maybe I'm not looking close enough. I haven't seen a problem.

That is good to know! I'm probably overthinking it, I am really good at that.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That is good to know! I'm probably overthinking it, I am really good at that.

I think when you have less birds you are able to look at them more. Anything odd here will draw my eyes and so far I've only had one d'uccle rooster have a foot feather that looked off, but ended up okay.

 

[ChickenChick46]

I think when you have less birds you are able to look at them more. Anything odd here will draw my eyes and so far I've only had one d'uccle rooster have a foot feather that looked off, but ended up okay.

Yeah probably so. Right now I've only got 4 bantams, and only the d'Uccle and cochin have feathered feet. My next birds (arriving next month) will be Orpingtons, so no feathered feet there either.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I have over 60 feather footed birds running around here without problems. Maybe I'm not looking close enough. I haven't seen a problem.

I'm wondering if mulch is just a bad match for the pekins. Thinking of changing it out for sand with a pine shavings forage box. Like I said, no one else seems to have an issue but me! They definitely make it known (or one of their buddies will make it known) when something gets caught up in there that can't be groomed out.