Managing Feathered Feet -- A Poll and a Conversation

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

Don't have them, don't want them. Personally I don't like the look. They look messy and unnatural. My chickens are pets and hop into my lap, so I don't want to deal with dirty/poopy feathers bringing extra filth into my lap. I also live in a cold climate and don't want the added risk of ice lingering on their feet. I don't want to deal with the other chickens picking on the feathered feet, because chickens are dumb racists and will totally do that to someone who looks different I also don't like it when people stray too far from what nature and evolution intended, just for the sake of human amusement. So I don't like chickens with feathered feet, frizzled feathers, top knots that obscure their vision, or other aesthetic human whims that compromise the bird in some way just for the look.

I have noticed my OEGBs feet are ALWAYS nasty and poopy. The Cochin Bantams are not as bad. Maybe just my chooks?

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Do you have feather-footed chickens?

Just over half of my current flock is feather-legged, 37 out of my current 70 birds.

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

Nope. They live in the same pens, eat the same food and drink the same water out of the same dishes, have the same bedding and roost setups provided, etc. I've never seen a need to do any differently.

What kind of soil do you have?

Near the coop it's clay soil that is a muddy, sloppy mess in late winter-early spring and then is mostly solid the rest of the year as long as we don't have endless rain like last summer. Further out where they free-range is more rich, forest floor soil covered in fallen leaves.

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

No issues, but it does get in their foot feathering. My clean legged birds also get mud caked on their legs when it's at its worst. It never causes problems for either and crumbles off once dry.

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

Most of my birds refuse to walk on snow, but the few that do can get some snow caught up in their foot feathering. However, it always falls out almost immediately once they go back inside and start scratching around their bedding. It doesn't collect in their feathering when they walk on the paths I tread down or shovel for them, only in the deeper snow.

Have you had any other issues with foot feathers?

The occasional broken feather that bleeds, and it seems like the more densely feathered legs like on the Cochins can have somewhat brittle and stunted outer toenails on both feet that can break and bleed, but not with enough frequency to be an actual problem. When I get a little lazy and let a coop go too long without cleaning, poop can collect in their foot feathering, but it doesn't cause an issue unless ignored for long enough to really build up and it also usually crumbles out once they're on clean litter again.

I will say that by fall, just before molt, their foot feathering usually looks pretty worn out and ratty. That's not an issue to me, personally, but others might find the look less appealing.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

I have noticed my OEGBs feet are ALWAYS nasty and poopy. The Cochin Bantams are not as bad. Maybe just my chooks?

I've honestly noticed a similar trend; my clean-legged birds tend to have nastier feet than my feather-legged birds. It does wear off faster on the clean-legged birds when they step in something nasty, though.

 

[RubelliteRose]

Do you have feather-footed chickens? I don't particularly like feathered feet, but I have 2 -sort of

Do you have to do any special management of the feathered feet? Why or why not? No, haven't had any need for special management

What kind of soil do you have? sandy loam

Have you had any issues with mud collecting on the foot feathers? no, but my BCM with actual feathers on her feet has not experienced Spring flooding yet.

Have you had any issues with ice collecting on the foot feathers? No, my chickens refuse to walk in snow

Have you had any other issues with foot feathers? My OE "should" have feathered feet, but has not had more than feather nubs since she was a baby. Clover was our lowest ranked hen and someone always pulled out her foot feathers (never saw anyone do it, so she may have pulled them herself). Pippin, our BCM, is 6 months old and has all of her foot feathers

 

[aart]

Don't like them.
Brahmas and Marans.
Tracking muck and/or snow-ice into the nests.
Broken pin feathers bleeding on roosts.
Fouled up follicles.
SLM hard to see or treat.

 

[Mrs. K]

I never cared for them, just didn't like the looks. But beggars can't be choosers, and I was able to get 4 birds last summer after we redid the run. And one of them had feathers on her feet. And later the rooster I hatched has light feathers on his feet, and I found it really didn't bother me.

I don't think I will order birds that way, but hey, it is really not that big of deal.

Mrs K

 

[K0k0shka]

Some of my birds who are not supposed to have feathers on their feet do anyway. Just a tiny clump of a few short fuzzy feathers between their toes. They make me itch to grab a pair of tweezers! I like my women with smooth clean legs… ha!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have 2, a SF and FBCM. Both are fairly lightly feathered though so it hasn't caused any issues. We do get lots of rain at times but good drainage and deep litter mostly keeps the birds from getting their feet soaked.

The FBCM does have foot issues but that's because she has toe pockets, which is unreleated to the feathering. I've also treated her for bumblefoot once or twice before and the feathers do make it harder to dry and bandage the foot.

I like visual variety in my flock, so foot feathers are just part of that.

 

[Sally PB]

Tracking muck and/or snow-ice into the nests.
Broken pin feathers bleeding on roosts.
Fouled up follicles.
SLM hard to see or treat.

I guess that just reinforces my decision not to have any. But I'll enjoy beautiful pictures of other people's birds.

 

[PippinTheChicken]

Do you have feather-footed chickens?
all of my chickens are feather footed
Do you have to do any special management of the feathered feet? Why or why not?
no. I haven't needed to yet
What kind of soil do you have?
no idea! I think Clay Loam
Have you had any issues with mud collecting on the foot feathers?
sometimes but they pull it off themselves
Have you had any issues with ice collecting on the foot feathers?
no
Have you had any other issues with foot feathers?
Well one time Kiwi was preening his feet and accidentally pulled out a feather. His foot bled and he limped for a few minutes. I just put some baby powder on it and gave him lots of hugs and he was better.