Author Topic: chicks with dirty feet (Read 3023 times)

liffy · « **on:** April 01, 2013, 06:40:40 pm »

Hello. My nearly two week old chicks are doing well except today I noticed balls of dirt on their feet. Mainly their toe nails. We have tried to soak and remove on one bird but it is hard going it is stuck fast. I had them on a litter of cut up straw pieces and am beginning to think this is wrong. I have been cleaning them out every two days or so.any advice? Thanks

zarzar · « **Reply #1 on:** April 01, 2013, 08:32:18 pm »

Hi i have never tried straw, but i normally use the small flaked shavings like they sell as horse bedding its expensive but you can easily see if starts looking grubby.

liffy · « **Reply #2 on:** April 02, 2013, 08:45:05 am »

Thanks. Have switched to shavings and spend about of time bathing little feet!

Bodger · « **Reply #3 on:** April 02, 2013, 09:34:51 am »

I've had this happen before and you have to be extremely carful getting those mud balls off. Its really easy to remove the chicks toe nails in doing so and they never grow back again.
Whatever the bedding, you've simply got to keep it very dry for the chicks.

in the hills · « **Reply #4 on:** April 02, 2013, 09:50:38 am »

We use the normal poultry shavings. We lift the water hopper slightly using a block of wood and the same for the food hopper. As you say, you will need to clean frequently and maybe scatter a thin layer of fresh sawdust on top of existing bedding in between times.

How many chicks to the size of your brood box? You may need a larger box ..... we find they are very messy with food, water and poop!

More space may help.

Only had a problem once with balls on their toes and that was with quail chicks. Lots of soaking in warm water and remove very slowly .... very easy to hurt their feet.

ruby123bella · « **Reply #5 on:** June 17, 2016, 06:52:05 pm »

we use hay and change it every day but only do that when there with there mother. If im rearing them in a brooder I use news paper with metal wire over the top.