Anyone know what causes this? Impacted Pockets in chickens toe webbing

[JacinLarkwell]

It's like horse hooves. They get yuckies that get trapped and have to be cleaned out. Personally if rather deal with this than the poo balls on their nails I keep getting

 

[lilofthestars]

I have a Brahma that has the same problem.She started to limp. We soaked her foot in epson salt sprayed then paced with Antibiotic and pain relief ointment. Then we wrapped it with the guards not too much. Left it on for about a week I had to wait for my husband to help me take it off she’s a good chicken but large she’s a Brahma. I’ve already had to do this a few times I don’t seem to close. She is 6 years old. I just have to keep on Trying

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have a Brahma that has the same problem.She started to limp. We soaked her foot in epson salt sprayed then paced with Antibiotic and pain relief ointment. Then we wrapped it with the guards not too much. Left it on for about a week I had to wait for my husband to help me take it off she’s a good chicken but large she’s a Brahma. I’ve already had to do this a few times I don’t seem to close. She is 6 years old. I just have to keep on Trying

Did you empty out the toe pockets? Soaking and ointments won't get rid of debris in there, they need to be physically cleaned out (after that soaking may help if there's swelling).

 

[lilofthestars]

Did you empty out the toe pockets? Soaking and ointments won't get rid of debris in there, they need to be physically cleaned out (after that soaking may help if there's swelling).

Oh yes absolutely I just forgot to put that in my post. But this is happened a few times and she’s an older chick and she’s about six years old and a broom and she’s pretty large. We’ve had to do this a few times

 

[rosemarythyme]

Oh yes absolutely I just forgot to put that in my post. But this is happened a few times and she’s an older chick and she’s about six years old and a broom and she’s pretty large. We’ve had to do this a few times

I find that as long as I clean out the pockets every once in a while (if the deposits become hard or enlarged then it's been too long) that it minimizes any issues. For the swelling, daily epsom salt soaks aren't a bad idea if she's been limping/painful (at most, they're completely harmless) but I don't think I'd wrap up afterwards unless there's an open injury you're trying to protect (i.e. bumblefoot surgery).

 

[ksmaher]

I know your post is from quite a long time ago, but did you ever discover what was going on or find a solution to the issue. I have a chicken who has the same thing happening.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I know your post is from quite a long time ago, but did you ever discover what was going on or find a solution to the issue. I have a chicken who has the same thing happening.

It's a physical (possibly genetic) issue and there's no permanent solution, just empty out the pockets on a regular basis and it shouldn't cause problems, and don't hatch from hens which have the issue.

 

[WingsysRoost]

I've noticed that some of my Barred Rocks have this. I remove anything that is stuck in the pocket when I do health checks, and treat the same way as I would a very mild infection if it looks irritated.

 

[MeeMawsChicks]

Oh wow!! My Rhode Island Red’s toes look the same as your chicken’s toes! I haven’t been able to spread her feet out to look in between underneath yet but I will in the morning. I soaked her feet in warm iodine water for 15 minutes for four days. I didn’t really see a difference but I will check them out carefully in the morning.

 

[aldarita]

I had 3 welsummers with the exact problem. I still have one left, she is 6 years old. They have never gotten an infection in their feet due to the pockets filled with dirt. All I have been doing is clean them up just as you show in the pictures. In my experience, I really do not think there is a problem. I do keep a clean coop (clean it every day) the area they roam is always grassy and I even pick up the poop there every day. Keeping the hard soil out of their pockets helps, however they fill up fast specially when it is wet due to dew or rain