Hi Everyone

[Anonymous]

Hi We live on the Blackdown Hills in Somerset and are very new to chicken keeping. We have a little flock consisting of 1 light sussex 1 buff orphington and 3 pekin bantams. They are just so amusing and we spend quite a few hours just watching them. I have a question about the pekins and their feet feathers which seem to get very dirty, do we wash them, that would be a daily job, or can you trim them? Look forward to any helpful answers.

 

[Blue]

hello and welcome

 

[Anonymous]

Hi ya
I don't have any "feather footed" chickens, just ordinary ex-battery types but they get muddy feet and beaks when they free-range in the garden. More fun that way! I just put them back in their walk-in-run with the litter of Aubiose on the floor - a couple of inches deep - and after a bit of scratching around - and sometimes jumping in the water :roll: they clean themselves up.
Someone with far more knowledge will be along shortly who'll have experience of your breed.
Welcome to the forum! 08
Anne

 

[Davidd]

Hello and welcome to the forum
Feathered leg breeds can get very dirty/muddy in the winter- you can trim them if you are not showing but most people keep them in covered runs during the bad months or keep them inside all winter if your house/coop is big enough- my owm silkies dont get out much during the winter- only on nice days and seem happy enough- indeed i am getting plenty of eggs and have broody hens at the moment! 07
regards, David

 

[pebojuno]

Hi and welcome to the forum I have a flock of pekins, they live in big grassy pens and their feet aren't usually too bad- What do you have on the floor in your run? Some things are messier than others but I wouldn't worry too much unless you want to show them

 

[ncotb]

Hi & welcome from me too

A few of my birds have feathered feet (3 brahma bantams, a pekin & silkie) but rarely wash their feet. Though have just got some booted, but they are going to be kept off the mud etc as I will show them.

 

[victorias poultry]

Hi
Welcome to the forum, if you do wish to wash their feet, I use Johnsons baby shampoo and then put the hair dryer on them (they love it!)