Just got back from a week away and …

[Dynamissa]

My Wyandotte’s feet look like the is

They were covered in black which I figured was poop. I washed it off and they look like this underneath.

Any ideas what could have happened? Chicken sitter and mother didn’t mention anything unusual.

They didn’t look like this when I left, everyone was was in good condition. She’s been eating and drinking fine.

 

[coach723]

It may have been droppings, has it been wet where the birds are? Is there a lot of droppings built up there? If so, then the ammonia that they give off when breaking down can cause a lot of irritation. Or she may have been injured somehow. I would do daily epsom salts soaks, 20 minutes or so, and then apply a plain triple antibiotic ointment to cover all the raw, injured areas. Reapply as needed. I would also crate her, in the run if possible (less stressful) on puppy pads or clean towels until they are healing up so that they stay clean, so that they don't get infected and get worse. If you can't crate her or keep her in a place where the feet can stay clean, then I would consider wrapping the feet to keep them clean, gauze covered in vet wrap or co wrap (not too tight). But you would need to change it daily to soak, monitor, and reapply ointment. My preference would be to leave them open to the air if possible, just using ointment.

 

[Dynamissa]

It has been dry as far as I know, our chicken sitters were cleaning up the run and coop daily of poop… I guess she had to have been injured somehow but I don’t know how. They’re in a secure run (we can’t free range) unless she got both feet caught under a root they dug up or something??? I honestly am at a loss.

But yes I’m washing them and treating them with vetericyn … I have SSD cream I can put on them as well.

Wild.