Foot condition >> removing dirt clods?

[rw66]

Hello,

I'm fairly new to chickens (1.5 years) and new to BYC (joined today). I think I've been lucky in that I've had zero issues until recently.

A few of my birds recently starting getting dirt clods on the tips of their feet. They are about the size of marbles, rock hard and very, very difficult to remove. I have searched the internet and have been unable to find the cause or an easy way to remove. I don't know if there is a name for this condition - which might make my search easier.

I keep their run and coop clean and it's not muddy with good drainage and several places to roost. Clean water and laying feed with grit on the side. They don't seem stressed but egg production is lower after this started.

I've soaked their feet in warm water trying to soften the clods without much luck (plus the birds hate it). I tried cutting them but I'm afraid of cutting their feet. After spending an evening doing this the clods finally release but it's a huge pain. Once I get them removed - they start showing back up in a few days.

Any suggestion?

 

[silkiemother]

are they young birds?and also them stepping in poop can cause this.

 

[Chickens :)]

Hello and welcome to BYC!
Can you send a photo of what they look like. When you say on the tips of their feet do you mean the toes?

 

[Anna and The Girls]

I have had this happen to my chickens after I was back from vacation. I am not really sure what is the cause of it, but in a couple of days they were gone. How long has it been going on and are your chickens in active at all?

 

[rw66]

They are about 1.5 years old - I think I keep there coop and run clean.

are they young birds?and also them stepping in poop can cause this.

 

[Anna and The Girls]

I just looked up this and a lot of websites showed up. Hope this can help! https://www.google.com/search?q=dirt+balls+on+hens+toenails&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari

 

[rw66]

Yes on the tips of their toes - it's dark here now, I get a pictures tomorrow.

Hello and welcome to BYC!
Can you send a photo of what they look like. When you say on the tips of their feet do you mean the toes?

The chicken seem very active - I initially let it go but they kept getting bigger. I literally spent 2 hours getting 3 of these things off one bird. Needless to say she was not happy/

I have had this happen to my chickens after I was back from vacation. I am not really sure what is the cause of it, but in a couple of days they were gone. How long has it been going on and are your chickens in active at all?

 

[Eggcessive]

What are you using for bedding? These mudd balls can become like concrete the longer they remain. Repeated warm soaks in soapy water to try and get them off. Stubborn ones may be removed by squeezing them with pliers or using scissors to gradually trim the balls. I have never had this problem, but it can be an occasional topic on here. I would look at ways to prevent the mud, perhaps by directing water away from your coop, and perhaps hauling in some creek sand. Use some pallets to walk on during severe wet weather. A covered run can help. Here is a link about this to read and a video of treatment:
https://blog.cacklehatchery.com/how-to-remove-dried-mud-caked-on-a-chickens-shanks-and-toes/