Managing Feathered Feet -- A Poll and a Conversation

[Iluveggers]

I ordered a Salmon Faverolles in this years order which will have feathered feet. I am a little afraid as I have wet, clay soil and it gets cold in the winter, but I am hoping that I will be able to manage the run with dry leaves and wood chips. If all goes well I’d eventually like a Marans or Cochin!

 

[Silkie Princess]

I ordered a Salmon Faverolles in this years order which will have feathered feet. I am a little afraid as I have wet, clay soil and it gets cold in the winter, but I am hoping that I will be able to manage the run with dry leaves and wood chips. If all goes well I’d eventually like a Marans or Cochin!

I have a SF and she does perfectly fine on mud, grass, dirt, wood chips and so on... And she's meant to be good quality but her feet are not as feathered as a Bantam Cochin or other bantam breeds... Btw those do fine on everyting too (but the Cochin is a bit muddy)

 

[tripletfeb]

I have one Light Brahma, had two but one was bullied to death. I will never get a brahma again. My girl is mean, hasn't laid during the winter despite light, and her feet are a mess most days. I have just regular soil in the run that turns to mud in the rain. I don't know if she gets ice in her foot feathers, she refuses to leave the coop when it's snowing. I miss my old girls, I used to have two Easter Eggers and three SLW. I would totally get those breeds again. They got along like gang bangers and laid pretty steady until they didn't. Then I got rid of them but do miss them a lot

 

[tripletfeb]

I am glad that you replied. I didn't want this to be just feathered-foot-fans gushing about how much we liked our birds.

I will, however, note that Microraptor and the other "4-winged" dinosaurs show that the feathered foot mutation is very old in the genetics of dinosaurs -- avian or non-avian.

I understand the repulsion against distorting nature for our amusement -- I find those dogs with the oversized heads and extremely flat faces disturbing myself.

I would totally own a microraptor if I could! One of my favorite dinos

 

[3KillerBs]

d

That rooster is stunning!!!

Thank you.

I kept Ludwig as mixed-flock sire for his temperament, but he is certainly is strong in the beauty department too.

 

[Sally PB]

I'm in the "I don't care for the look of feathered feet" camp as well. I assumed when I first saw them here on BYC, that they must take some special care on the person's part, but apparently not. I don't know how they'd look after a season in my run, but I don't want to find out they look like a mess.

I have to say, the first time I saw a picture of a roo with some big pantaloons, I laughed out loud. Ditto with frizzles and silkies. I think what went through my (very newbie) mind was, "OMG, is that really a chicken?!?"

They've grown on me a bit, but it's like well groomed long haired dogs. Beautiful to look at, but I don't want the responsibility to keep it that way.

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm in the "I don't care for the look of feathered feet" camp as well. I assumed when I first saw them here on BYC, that they must take some special care on the person's part, but apparently not. I don't know how they'd look after a season in my run, but I don't want to find out they look like a mess.

I have to say, the first time I saw a picture of a roo with some big pantaloons, I laughed out loud. Ditto with frizzles and silkies. I think what went through my (very newbie) mind was, "OMG, is that really a chicken?!?"

They've grown on me a bit, but it's like well groomed long haired dogs. Beautiful to look at, but I don't want the responsibility to keep it that way.

I'll admit that I find Silkies, Frizzles, and those tall, skinny game-fowl freakish -- but to me one of the great things about chickens is that there is a breed for just about any set of tastes.

 

[T-R-O-U-B-L-E]

My Cochin Bantams get muddy feet but they dry. When I bathe them for the fair I do have a hard time getting their foot feathers clean. We rarely get snow and ice here so no problem with that. I really like the look of fluffy feet also.

 

[NatJ]

I'm another one who doesn't like feathered feet.

I had Light Brahmas in the past. The temperament was nice, and I loved the Columbian color and the pea combs.

The foot feathers usually looked muddy and dirty, which bothered me but did not appear to bother the chickens. (I had the kind of dirt that is nice for gardening, but turns into mud when it rains.)

Thanks to those Brahmas, I now have a strong preference for breeds with pea combs and clean legs

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Do you have feather-footed chickens?

Yes-Light Brahma (soon to have FBCM and a Favacauna)

What kind of soil do you have?

Deep litter in the run

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

No

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

Occasionally, but she cleans it up

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

No

Have you had any other issues with foot feathers?

1 ingrown feather (plucked and done) 1 case of SLM