Managing Feathered Feet -- A Poll and a Conversation

[3KillerBs]

Do you have feather-footed chickens?

Do you have to do any special management of the feathered feet? Why or why not?

What kind of soil do you have?

Have you had any issues with mud collecting on the foot feathers?

Have you had any issues with ice collecting on the foot feathers?

Have you had any other issues with foot feathers?

 

[casportpony]

Do you have feather-footed chickens?

Yes.

Do you have to do any special management of the feathered feet? Why or why not?

No.

What kind of soil do you have?

Clay

Have you had any issues with mud collecting on the foot feathers?

No

Have you had any issues with ice collecting on the foot feathers?

No

Have you had any other issues with foot feathers?

Scaly leg mites can be hard to see on feather legged/footed birds.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I have cochin bantams, silkies and D'uccles. I think we have a harder/clay/rocky soil. Not entirely sure.

They all are bad about getting poop in their feathers, but usually not mud. Only the less smart birds get ice clumps that cause problems

 

[3KillerBs]

I was just replying to a "which breed?" question with a feather-footed and non-feather-footed breed in question and, while mentioning the issues that could occur with feathered feet and mud, it occurred to me that it would be useful to have a thread where people could talk about their experiences with feather-footed breeds, good and bad.

I've personally had Brahmas, Marans, Langshans, and a Cochin and have never had any problems with them.

At least, not unless you count accidentally stepping on the Cochin's foot feathers because she is so friendly that she gets literally right underfoot when I'm working in the coop.

One of the Marans pullets had a couple broken blood feathers on her leg feathers when she was in a juvenile molt. I don't know if it was related to her being the sparsest-feathered of the three or not and, since I sold her (in part because I didn't like the sparseness of her foot feathers), I don't know if that was an ongoing problem.

I love feathered feet because I think they look cool. I think that my lack of problems with them has a great deal to do with my mild climate and sandy, exceedingly (even excessively), well-drained soil.

I don't buy the idea that feather-footed chickens do less damage in the garden. Whoever came up with that one has never seen my Brahma excavate a new dusting hole so deep that she can sink to the level of her back (lying down), in a single afternoon.

 

[black_cat]

I do not have feather footed chickens but I want them. I like the look and the extra warmt around the legs because winter is pretty cold here. I don't have qualms about wet feet because my run is roofed and both coop and run are kept dry. One of my close friends has feather footed cochins and mud is sometimes and issue with them, but comes off on its own, and ice has never been an issue for her.

 

[3xhhheather]

I have a few and I’m probably going to rehome some of them to people who have dry enclosed runs. My pen is pretty open and while majority of it is wood chips there is a section that’s just leaves/mud/mossy bits. It’s mostly my Salmon Favorelle, she’s just a hot mess, where my Black Copper Maran has beautiful feathered legs, so maybe it’s down to the individual bird?

 

[3KillerBs]

It’s mostly my Salmon Favorelle, she’s just a hot mess, where my Black Copper Maran has beautiful feathered legs, so maybe it’s down to the individual bird?

Is there a difference in the density/texture of the foot feathers?

I haven't had problems with any of mine, but the Cochin's feet are INTENSELY feathered -- long and thick -- while the Langshans' and Marans' feet are moderately feathered (with the Brahma in the middle).

 

[Brooks_]

My run is not quite right yet. Top soil on lime rock and white clay. On a high spot so good run off and not much pooling, but still somewhat muddy. Maybe this year I'll be able to finish the fencing and add wood chips. For now, feathered feet are out.

 

[Weeg]

Do you have feather-footed chickens?

Yes

Do you have to do any special management of the feathered feet? Why or why not?

I haven't needed to yet until now. Seems my Cochin bantam roo is collecting mud on his feet floof. I'm assuming I'll have to do some management very soon.

What kind of soil do you have?

Whatever type of soil that gets super muddy. Pretty sure theres some clay in there.

Have you had any issues with mud collecting on the foot feathers?

Yes, this wet season I'm having issues with my bantam Cochin rooster.
No issues with ice, yet at least. I haven't had any other issues with feathers besides that.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Do you have feather-footed chickens?

Yes, Dark Brahma

Do you have to do any special management of the feathered feet? Why or why not?

Yes, I'm breeding it out of my flock.

What kind of soil do you have?

Clay-y sands and Sandy Clays.

Have you had any issues with mud collecting on the foot feathers?

YES.

Have you had any issues with ice collecting on the foot feathers?

No, we don't get ice. (OK, almost never get ice).

Have you had any other issues with foot feathers?

Nope. Thankfully