Knots on toes

[Love my hens 21]

Thread 'Love My Hens'
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/love-my-hens.1533888/
please read the attached. I have tracked photos, lol hard to photo active hens.

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

This looks like mud/feces have got stuck on the ends of their toes. It's not a nice job to take it off either. If that is the case, I saw someone having to do this to their chicks and you need to soak it for a long time in warm water and try your best to get it off. If it's truly stuck it can break or cause the toes to bleed so please practise sanitarily.

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

If you can't do it, head to a vet!

 

[Love my hens 21]

If you can't do it, head to a vet!

Thank you for your reply. We will take them to the vet for examination. We sure do not want to loose them..

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree that is mud balls or a combo of mud and poop. Here are some articles and a thread about how people treat it:
https://www.adelaidechickensittingservice.com/blog/mud-ball-removal-from-chicken-toes#comments

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/giant-mud-balls-on-ends-of-toes.74847/

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

Thank you for your reply. We will take them to the vet for examination. We sure do not want to loose them..

It won't cause them much discomfort at the moment, more of an awkward feeling. But when theyre removed you may need to be extra cautious as they could be in real pain. Good luck!

 

[Love my hens 21]

I agree that is mud balls or a combo of mud and poop. Here are some articles and a thread about how people treat it:
https://www.adelaidechickensittingservice.com/blog/mud-ball-removal-from-chicken-toes#comments

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/giant-mud-balls-on-ends-of-toes.74847/

Wow thank you so much, you have relieved our minds.
We have a large pen as you can imagine with 27 hens, but we keep DE and fresh straw down it is completely roofed so no mud, except from the water bins I recently set up to combat the 100’ heat. We will do them tonight when my husband gets home..We just noticed these so I am sure the water in the pen was the culprit.