Silkies with horrible looking feet.

[bluefreeze]

Update - We did gas dips and A&D treatments over the 3 or so days as recommended. I also gave them a bath, and a good DE dusting today all over. They seem happy, they got to walk around on the grass and took a few steps here and there. My husband wants to do ONE more gas dip and ointment, then just oil or ointment the feet occasionally to help the stuff come off, it is HARD as a rock all over the feet. Well, thanks for all of your support. It is nice to have a place I can come and vent and get some positive feedback, I appreciate that!

 

[bluefreeze]

Poor birds! I think if you are willing to put the time and effort into it, I would give them a chance. You can always change your mind at any time, but if they were mine, I would give them a chance. I'm sure they are uncomfortable, so once they are feeling better, they may start moving around more.
This is a long thread with some birds that were found with really awful feet. It's very long, but there are pictures spread through, may be good for you to read.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/what-to-do-with-this-foot.1285351/
I would quarantine these ones for now, at least 30 days. Start working on the feet. Get them eating and drinking and hopefully stronger. Since they were in awful conditions worming would be something I would do at some point. Safeguard liquid goat wormer is usually available locally, but with Covid I know some places are out of stock. You can also get it online. You can also use Valbazen, that usually I have to order.
Here is info, with pictures to help, for any possible lice/mites:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/

So you think 30 days will be ok? I was trying to get an idea of how long they should be separated as I don't think I will see much improvement any time soon with a case this bad. That stuff is hard as a rock, there is basically another LEG of hardness attached to the leg and you saw some of the feet... Thanks!

 

[bluefreeze]

Another question, should I trim off the feathers on the feet to make it easier to apply stuff on them or would it aid in the healing? I thought someone said they have blood vessels on the feet feathers, or would it leave sharp shafts or whatever, thanks again!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Update - We did gas dips and A&D treatments over the 3 or so days as recommended. I also gave them a bath, and a good DE dusting today all over. They seem happy, they got to walk around on the grass and took a few steps here and there. My husband wants to do ONE more gas dip and ointment, then just oil or ointment the feet occasionally to help the stuff come off, it is HARD as a rock all over the feet. Well, thanks for all of your support. It is nice to have a place I can come and vent and get some positive feedback, I appreciate that!

The DE does nothing to treat mites, lice or anything really.....it is much more effective to use permethrin 10.

The gas dips...I have read about that as an old time treatment. I am not entirely sure I would do even one gas dip. Might be best to not repeat that treatment again. Just soak in epsom salt water to soften the scales/crud and slather good with oil.

I know you are trying to help these poor birds. I would keep them separately so treating them long term is easier.

 

[coach723]

I don't do the gas dip either, always concerned that if there is any open skin it would burn like the dickens and not help healing. 30 days is a good quarantine time to let any other health problems have time to show up before you find out after they are already with your other birds. And if they need more time to work on their legs and feet, then go longer. The oil will help soften the rest of the gunk slowly, but it may take some time to get it all off. And yes, it is really hard. Part of why it causes so much damage when left untreated. Better to go slow than damaging the tissue underneath by trying to go fast. You can trim the feathers if you want, they only bleed when they are new feathers (blood feathers) coming in and they have a blood supply. Once they are fully formed the blood supply is withdrawn and they shouldn't bleed. Do what makes it easiest for you to treat them. So glad you are helping them. I hope you will update as you go, this may really help someone else at some point.

 

[bluefreeze]

The DE does nothing to treat mites, lice or anything really.....it is much more effective to use permethrin 10.

The gas dips...I have read about that as an old time treatment. I am not entirely sure I would do even one gas dip. Might be best to not repeat that treatment again. Just soak in epsom salt water to soften the scales/crud and slather good with oil.

I know you are trying to help these poor birds. I would keep them separately so treating them long term is easier.

Thanks so much. I know that gas thing really sounded barbaric! Believe me, I searched for hours and found a lot of info saying it basically kills everything including the nits, so the life cycle issues are null, as well you are getting every part of the foot and leg covered, infiltrating all the affected area. I hate it, and I thought the hens would freak out at the first touch of gas, but they had no reaction which relieved me. I will think about your advice, I mean it, I will. I just have no way to cover or "suffocate" these things on these feet as they are a MESS. So unless I can find something else that can get into every crack and crevice, like a full dip type liquid, I don't have any choice. I read about sprays, but it would have to really get a chance to penetrate I think. Any other advice or ideas are welcome!! The gas was the only thing I found any info on as a sure fire dip type cure, and sometimes old ideas are horrible, sometimes they are good, who knows? The DE dusting was just to give them and nice clean feel and I know if they could, they would be dusting them selves.... It is what I have here now, but the permethrin 10, is that like sevendust? I hadn't heard of it, thanks!!

 

[bluefreeze]

I don't do the gas dip either, always concerned that if there is any open skin it would burn like the dickens and not help healing. 30 days is a good quarantine time to let any other health problems have time to show up before you find out after they are already with your other birds. And if they need more time to work on their legs and feet, then go longer. The oil will help soften the rest of the gunk slowly, but it may take some time to get it all off. And yes, it is really hard. Part of why it causes so much damage when left untreated. Better to go slow than damaging the tissue underneath by trying to go fast. You can trim the feathers if you want, they only bleed when they are new feathers (blood feathers) coming in and they have a blood supply. Once they are fully formed the blood supply is withdrawn and they shouldn't bleed. Do what makes it easiest for you to treat them. So glad you are helping them. I hope you will update as you go, this may really help someone else at some point.

Thank you so much! I will try to get some more pics, my one didn't show the half of it, it is so bad. If I can show the truth of this kind of neglect and what can really happen, I am glad to do that. This is a severe case of neglect, turning a blind eye, whatever. So, If I made a concoction of olive oil, tea tree oil, and ? Any suggestions or home made treatments and how often would you slather that on? I am thinking every few days? I feel like they are so stressed, they are getting to know me, they are in a new home, they are being handled so much, I am trying to keep in mind their mental state too. I try to just go out and sit, talk to them, let them get to know my voice. So every time I come to see them I am not there to handle and bother and hurt them. Well, that is the goal but i know I gotta do what I gotta do... ..Thanks again!

 

[coach723]

Tractor Supply stores, most feed stores, many places have permethrin. You can get it in spray (ready to spray or concentrates that you dilute with water first) or as poultry dust. Doesn't really matter what brand. It will be with the livestock supplies. A couple of examples below. You can also use Elector PSP, which is purported to work really well, but is a LOT more expensive, and you will probably have to order online. Amazon usually has it.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Thanks so much. I know that gas thing really sounded barbaric! Believe me, I searched for hours and found a lot of info saying it basically kills everything including the nits, so the life cycle issues are null, as well you are getting every part of the foot and leg covered, infiltrating all the affected area. I hate it, and I thought the hens would freak out at the first touch of gas, but they had no reaction which relieved me. I will think about your advice, I mean it, I will. I just have no way to cover or "suffocate" these things on these feet as they are a MESS. So unless I can find something else that can get into every crack and crevice, like a full dip type liquid, I don't have any choice. I read about sprays, but it would have to really get a chance to penetrate I think. Any other advice or ideas are welcome!! The gas was the only thing I found any info on as a sure fire dip type cure, and sometimes old ideas are horrible, sometimes they are good, who knows? The DE dusting was just to give them and nice clean feel and I know if they could, they would be dusting them selves.... It is what I have here now, but the permethrin 10, is that like sevendust? I hadn't heard of it, thanks!!

Totally different active ingredient. The sevin dust used to be the go to to treat mites and lice but is no longer legal for use on poultry here in the states.
Permethrin comes as a liquid that has dilution instructions on the package. It degrades fairly quickly once mixed so a fresh batch needs to be made every time.

https://www.durvet.com/product/permethrin-10/

Most farm stores carry it.

I see Coach got the others posted.

The white can is a powder. I would use that if needing a dry item to treat with.

@coach723 do you think the permethrin 10 could be used as a leg dip?

 

[coach723]

I know that I read a thread somewhere where someone used the elector as a leg dip, so I would think that if you used the same dilution that you would use for spraying them that it would be OK. Honestly, if I was dealing with really bad ones like this, I probably would. The gas may have already gotten them, but it's hard to say with so much detrius built up.