Lumps on quail feet?

[QChickieMama]

I have 12 bobwhite quail that have been living in a dirt-floored flight pen. They're maybe 1.5-2 yrs old. I moved them today to another pen and noticed that their feet have huge hard poop-looking blobs on their toes. Is this poo? Why is this happening? Can it be remedied or prevented?

 

[sourland]

It may very well be a combination of poop and soil built up on their toes. Provide deep, dry bedding and eventually the poop clumps should fall off.

 

[James the Bald]

It could be bumblefoot. Check out this link:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/236649/bumblefoot-surgery-with-pics-and-how-to
James

 

[pigeons in ak]

if the poo was on their feet for a long time the poo will stop blood circulation to the toes then the toes will fall off




not my photo

 

[USAmma]

if the poo was on their feet for a long time the poo will stop blood circulation to the toes then the toes will fall off




not my photo

 

[USAmma]

I just performed bumblefoot surgery on one of my quails, and she is doing well and healing so far. See if they have the teltale black scab at the center of the swollen part or not.

 

[TwoCrows]

If these blobs are on the toe nails themselves, it is probably poop balls. You need to clean these off to protect the toes from infection.

 

[QChickieMama]

If these blobs are on the toe nails themselves, it is probably poop balls. You need to clean these off to protect the toes from infection.

It does seem the blobs are at the very end of each toe. If I put a shallow dish of warm water in their pen, will they go wading for me? Ha.

Otherwise, how on earth will I get it off?

I just moved them to a wire-floored pen, so this won't continue to happen, but now their toes might get stuck in the wire? Hoping not.

 

[USAmma]

It does seem the blobs are at the very end of each toe. If I put a shallow dish of warm water in their pen, will they go wading for me? Ha.

Otherwise, how on earth will I get it off?

I just moved them to a wire-floored pen, so this won't continue to happen, but now their toes might get stuck in the wire? Hoping not.

I put my quail that needed foot soaking into a plastic carry case that is used for small birds or rodents. I then poured warm water into the cage and put them in. I have also put them in the bathtube with just enough water to cover their feet and they seem to relax and really like it, believe it or not.

 

[TwoCrows]

Quote: X2

Soaking the toes is the only way to get these poop balls off. These balls can cause all sorts of issues, none of which you need to deal with.