How to Care for Feather-Footed Chickens?

[chalynm]

Someone gave us a (we think) Brahma roo over the weekend. We discovered that he has scaly leg mites, which we're treating successfully. He already looks loads better, and his personality has really blossomed. My question now is how do we care for his feet once they're healthy? We only have black australorps, and this is our first flock, so we have no experience with feather-footed breeds.

Also, two of his front toes, one on each foot, have very odd looking claws. They curve up instead of down and look stunted. Could this be from the mites? Is it something we should be concerned about?

The first pic is from the day he arrived. The rest are post-bath the next morning.

TIA for your help!

 

[silkiechicken]

Feet look pretty normal for a feather footed bird. The feather shafts always tend to get reddened and irritated because of moving feathers while walking around outside. As for the nails, they look like they're still in a proper enough position to get worn down naturally, so I wouldn't worry.

 

[SmartyChick]

I agree, his toes look pretty normal. My feather-footed breeds can have some pretty weird feet, but as long as they don't seem to be paining him, I just leave them alone. I did have a Silkie who's feather's on her feet got reeeaaly long and I just trimmed them a little.

 

[chalynm]

So just keep him out of the mud, and let him do the rest?

Out of curiosity, are feather-footed breeds a man made creation? If so, why would you want a chicken to have feathers on their feet? If not, what advantage do the give?

Thanks!

 

[gritsar]

I do nothing special for my brahmas feet, roo or hens. I've read of mud balls on their feet, but have never seen that with my own birds and springtime in Arkansas = rain and more rain.

 

[catdaddy66]

As a physical therapist I can say that the red areas look as if they are inflammed, more than likely from the mites. The meds you have should help that issue as well as getting rid of the parasites. I know, I work on people, but vertebrates have similar healing mechanisms. Ask some BYC'ers as many probably know more than I do. I hope the bird does well!

 

[silkiechicken]

I do nothing special. The heavy feathered feet are usually bred becuase they look cool, and if housed on shavings in a raised coop, the feathered feet can look pretty. But as a general purpose yard bird, their feathers get moved around a lot and they'll end up redder if the big guy gets to run around.

 

[PepsNick]

Normal. People usually don't treat a normal foot differently unless something is wrong with it like bumblefoot etc.