How do you soak a chicken's foot?

[mollygrace]

I have a hen with bumblefoot and it sounds like an epsom salt soak will be beneficial, but I can't figure out how I'm actually supposed to get her to stand still for a foot soak! How do y'all do it?

 

[GuineaMania]

Right now I have a hen with bumblefoot too. I hold on to her while she stands in the Epsom salt water and I put a towel over her head. This works great to calm her down. If I take off the towel she freaks out!

 

[charlie1051]

Right now I have a hen with bumblefoot too. I hold on to her while she stands in the Epsom salt water and I put a towel over her head. This works great to calm her down. If I take off the towel she freaks out!

Same, I roll her up with a towel like a chicken burrito...( I had to ). I also cover her head. My girls LOVE to be rolled up in the towel with their heads covered..they usually fall asleep.

 

[DLA]

I take a plastic dish pan or whatever similar is handy. For soaking feet you only need an inch or two of water. I get a stool or chair for me and something to put the pan on, something sturdy so the pan where they are standing doesn't feel unstable to them. Put the chicken in and sit there with my hands on the chicken to hold her still and keep her from jumping out, drinking the water or sitting down in the water. If it's a flighty chicken, cover the head but make sure they can still breathe. You can also use a towel and wrap them up so they can't flap their wings but if it's hot out they can get overheated. After a time or two I've noticed they seem to get used to the routine and calm down and not mind it much. Do the soak in a quiet environment with no distractions for the bird, like the other flock members or other animals or people moving around. I do lots of quiet talking or soft humming or singing while soaking, seems to calm them down if they're upset.

 

[Eggcessive]

Some use a bathtub or sink with shallow water. I have seen a few Rubbermaid containers used, where they cut a whole in the lid and pad the egdes before putting the chicken’s head through it to hold them in there.

 

[GuineaMania]

Same, I roll her up with a towel like a chicken burrito...( I had to ). I also cover her head. My girls LOVE to be rolled up in the towel with their heads covered..they usually fall asleep.

 

[GuineaMania]

I take a plastic dish pan or whatever similar is handy. For soaking feet you only need an inch or two of water. I get a stool or chair for me and something to put the pan on, something sturdy so the pan where they are standing doesn't feel unstable to them. Put the chicken in and sit there with my hands on the chicken to hold her still and keep her from jumping out, drinking the water or sitting down in the water. If it's a flighty chicken, cover the head but make sure they can still breathe. You can also use a towel and wrap them up so they can't flap their wings but if it's hot out they can get overheated. After a time or two I've noticed they seem to get used to the routine and calm down and not mind it much. Do the soak in a quiet environment with no distractions for the bird, like the other flock members or other animals or people moving around. I do lots of quiet talking or soft humming or singing while soaking, seems to calm them down if they're upset.

Good advice!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I have a very large metal bowl I use for soaking my own feet. An inch or two of pleasantly warm water with a little Epsom salt dissolved in. Agree, put a towel over her head and hold her wings down. It's an unusual feeling so she may struggle at first but it should feel good to her so she settles down soon.