What's the right thing to do?

[Simplyrla]

Sorry I didn't get back. My helper husband had to leave town. He should get back tonight to help me get the pictures. They won't let me get too close during the day, although they aren't running away as fast.

 

[Kris5902]

Still here and waiting! Thanks for the update. Mealworms can work magic for taming down birds... I’ve actually left home for the weekend leaving poor husband with 67 chickens, 4 of which are rehab girls who are being isolated for recovery and are allowed to freerange throughout the day a bit. One is sick enough you can just walk up to her, but the other three? None were handled at all in the last year or more.

I showed hubby my “special chicken herding” technique before I left. Any cup or jar, like Tupperware or such, container. Wave it so they can see it, tap it and walk back to their coop arrangements. Don’t chase the chicken... get the chicken to chase you! One will now chase me, leap up, and try to peck the container from my hands; I guess she’s feeling better! And the Rooster with the one pair will chase his ladies (usually) who are chasing me, looking for treats.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Sorry I didn't get back. My helper husband had to leave town. He should get back tonight to help me get the pictures. They won't let me get too close during the day, although they aren't running away as fast.

I have no lap pet type chickens. They are all extremely wild and I don't get joy out of trying to catch or herd wild chickens. All that does is make them fear you more.
If I need to catch a bird, I wait till they go to roost and pluck them off the roost at dusk or shortly thereafter. They are most docile then. If needing to take pictures or dose a bird, it is a tremendous advantage to have a helper. All of my buildings are designed with easy access to roosts either from inside or with roost access doors from outside.

 

[Simplyrla]

I hope these pictures are ok.

 

[Kris5902]

I’ve never seen such a bright red leg! Is his other leg also red like that? I know with some of my males get a red flush sort of like that along the outside of their legs... someone said that can be a hormonal thing but I’m no expert.

 

[Simplyrla]

I’ve never seen such a bright red leg! Is his other leg also red like that? I know with some of my males get a red flush sort of like that along the outside of their legs... someone said that can be a hormonal thing but I’m no expert.

Both legs are like that. I had heard the same thing but they look raw to me. And it looks like they are missing the outter layer of scales in some places. I've been putting vaseline with a little lanolin mixed in on his legs. They actually look better than they did when I first got him. I guess I'll keep doing it.

 

[Kris5902]

I’ve also noticed that the feet of my feather footed chickens tend to look a little more rough like that. He seems to be missing the feathers though, do you know if they were broken off or is he pulling them out?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The pictures are great. So I guess you haven't used the kerosene/linseed oil mix.

 

[AmyJane725]

While they are certainly uncomfortable now I don't think you're being inhumane by not just culling them. These parasites are relatively easy to treat. I feel like it would be a shame to kill them when the ailments are so easily dealt with.

Do you know what to do for the bumblefeet or do you need help with that?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Both legs are like that. I had heard the same thing but they look raw to me. And it looks like they are missing the outter layer of scales in some places. I've been putting vaseline with a little lanolin mixed in on his legs. They actually look better than they did when I first got him. I guess I'll keep doing it.

The redness may just be hormones. The scales aren't too bad, so I would just keep up with the vaseline like you have been doing.

Did you happen to get any photos of the bottoms of his feet

In the other photo, he's a handsome fella. I think once he settles in a bit more and gets used to handling, you will find he will be be fairly easy to treat.