Removing old leg bands

[LoribelleF]

Hello friends...
While out chatting with the girls over the weekend I noticed Sophia has developed a callous on top of her foot from the 4H ID band rubbing it. (In our state for kids to exhibit chickens and other livestock it has to be tagged and since i rescued her she still has it.) It doesn't look like it's bleeding but it is rather big and the band is settling into it. I would like to remove it after molt to provide some relief ( the other Barred Rock Lucy, likes to peck at it when Sophia gets to close. Lucy can be a stinker sometimes.)
What is the best way to do this? Have a VCA look at it or try myself?
When ot stops storming I will get a picture of her foot.
Lucy has one too since she was also a 4H girl, no callus though.

 

[R2elk]

Hello friends...
While out chatting with the girls over the weekend I noticed Sophia has developed a callous on top of her foot from the 4H ID band rubbing it. (In our state for kids to exhibit chickens and other livestock it has to be tagged and since i rescued her she still has it.) It doesn't look like it's bleeding but it is rather big and the band is settling into it. I would like to remove it after molt to provide some relief ( the other Barred Rock Lucy, likes to peck at it when Sophia gets to close. Lucy can be a stinker sometimes.)
What is the best way to do this? Have a VCA look at it or try myself?
When ot stops storming I will get a picture of her foot.
Lucy has one too since she was also a 4H girl, no callus though.

If it is a metal band, I would use a flush cut diagonal pliers to gently slide in between the band and leg to cut it off.

Flush cut diagonals

 

[Ridgerunner]

I wonder if the band is causing the callous or if it is the other hen pecking?

But yes, a photo of what you are working with could be really helpful.

 

[LoribelleF]

I wonder if the band is causing the callous or if it is the other hen pecking?

But yes, a photo of what you are working with could be really helpful.

Here is one of her foot. The others wouldn't let me get much closer, lol, so I had to zoom.

 

[aart]

Hard to say what that bump is, could be a callous or blister from the band.
She also appears to have scaly leg mites and some swelling.
Needs closer inspection.
I examine my birds off the roost at night, easier to 'catch' them then.

 

[LoribelleF]

Hard to say what that bump is, could be a callous or blister from the band.
She also appears to have scaly leg mites and some swelling.
Needs closer inspection.
I examine my birds off the roost at night, easier to 'catch' them then.

Thanks. Well now I'm really upset. What do i about her her legs?

 

[aart]

What do i about her her legs?

Not sure how to remove that kind of band, probably bend it open?

Scaly leg mites can be suffocated with an application of ointment or oil,
every day or so for a week or two.
Might take a long time(weeks to months) for scales to recover, if they ever do.

 

[LoribelleF]

Not sure how to remove that kind of band, probably bend it open?

Scaly leg mites can be suffocated with an application of ointment or oil,
every day or so for a week or two.
Might take a long time(weeks to months) for scales to recover, if they ever do.

. Sophia is an older girl that is fat and sassy in her old age. Kind of like me and after being beat up so many times as a young girl I took her in to keep her safe from the barnyard bullies. I hate now I have let her down too. I will do some research on this and get this band off her leg.
Thanks for all of your help it is appreciated greatly.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't have experience with that type of bands. I don't know how they are attached to begin with. I'd expect them to be clamped on. If they are there should be some sort of joint you can bend open. Or maybe some wire cutters?

I don;t now if that band is contributing to that callous or not. If you can get it off I would.

It's not that unusual for older chickens to have leg mites. The old timers would coat the legs with used motor oil but that's not recommended. Now use petroleum jelly. Coat the leg every day to smother the mites. Their life cycle is about 2 weeks so I'd do it at least that long. If one bird in your flock has them, they all do, so treat all bird.

 

[LoribelleF]

I don't have experience with that type of bands. I don't know how they are attached to begin with. I'd expect them to be clamped on. If they are there should be some sort of joint you can bend open. Or maybe some wire cutters?

I don;t now if that band is contributing to that callous or not. If you can get it off I would.

It's not that unusual for older chickens to have leg mites. The old timers would coat the legs with used motor oil but that's not recommended. Now use petroleum jelly. Coat the leg every day to smother the mites. Their life cycle is about 2 weeks so I'd do it at least that long. If one bird in your flock has them, they all do, so treat all bird.

I will start treatment and investigate the cause of it.