cleaning feet

[Moses]

keeping the feet clean to prevent diseases etc

is it ok just to wash it with water every 2 days or so or do u guys use some sort of veterinary liquid to give it a good clean underneath

and after that is it safe to rub the top of the feet with olive oil for suppleness and keep it neat

cheers

[IAmTheWeasel]

You don't really need to do much in the way of cleaning unless the bird is at risk of infection in my opinion. I have in the past used an old toothbrush and some hydrogen peroxide to scrub a newly trapped birds feet as they where pretty nasty. Not really sure what kind of topical solution you would use, but I have heard of it being done before. When scales apear dried and flakey it's because they shed the outer layer much in the same manner as a snake does it's skin. I sat with one red tail and picked off old scale material for hours one day simply because I was bored and the shiney new scales looked good underneath.

[Moses]

You don't really need to do much in the way of cleaning unless the bird is at risk of infection in my opinion. I have in the past used an old toothbrush and some hydrogen peroxide to scrub a newly trapped birds feet as they where pretty nasty. Not really sure what kind of topical solution you would use, but I have heard of it being done before. When scales apear dried and flakey it's because they shed the outer layer much in the same manner as a snake does it's skin. I sat with one red tail and picked off old scale material for hours one day simply because I was bored and the shiney new scales looked good underneath.

:D @ boredom :D i know what u mean mate

is it common for hawks and falcons to have alot of problems with their feet, i hear alot about bumblefoot all the time and did u have another spare bird to fly while this one was out

cheers

[OutFlying]

Provide a bath

[IAmTheWeasel]

Good answer! A bird will naturally wash off all the nasty when it goes for a bath or drink. As for bumble foot, that is more often caused by incorrect perching surfaces. Either wrong size or wrong material.

[LeighJauncey]

I've noticed my peregrine 'wiping her feet' very carefully in the astroturf on her block after feeding. She drags her toes very deliberately through the tufts.

[Moses]

Provide a bath

short but true :D

thanks mate

i am w , mate can astroturf prevent bumblefoot or what other material would u recommend

thanks

leigh nice one mate :)

[OutFlying]

Materials for perches

Cork, rubber, astroturf, natural branches, carpet.

[Moses]

thanks mate alot, i owe u big time your an angel :)

i got branches i got that idea from nimbus;s mews i luv that setup

your an awesome and helpful guy bud , thanks a million

[Talon]

try alo vera gel .on feet or i use f10 barrer cream.
but most of all good perchs is what u need for healthy birds feet.

[Moses]

thanks talon i saw an advert in the ibr for aloe vera gel

sounds cool, how often do u to apply gel on your bird mate


thanks

[Talon]

hi moses
once or twice a week is fine.
but i get it from hollond &barrets health food shops
its a hell of a lot cheeper than the i b r
and its the same stuff
the f10 barrier cream is excellent its a anti fungal and bacteria cream
germacidal.use say once a fortnight if that.

[OhMyGod]

when catching rooks and crows you may find that they puncture the falcons foot with their talons. I use (especially when on landfills) dettox or dettol 'anti bacterial surface cleaner' spray, and a small sponge with green pad on top for doing the dishes. I spray the feet and clean off all blood and spray scratches and have never had any foot problems ever.

[Moses]

hi moses
once or twice a week is fine.
but i get it from hollond &barrets health food shops
its a hell of a lot cheeper than the i b r
and its the same stuff
the f10 barrier cream is excellent its a anti fungal and bacteria cream
germacidal.use say once a fortnight if that.

thanks alot talon my friend, will do :) f10 sounds awesome too

omg mate God willing i wont be hunting rooks and crows dont want them to poke my hawks eyes out :D their wretched lil ******s them crows and rooks

i will be starting of with rabbits and then onto gamebirds

cheers mate

[Talon]

moses i should of said. f10 is made for birds.to get it i think garlands
sell it. about 11 pound a tub last ages though.

[Jiff]

when i started out i followed martin hollinsheads advice and got my bird used to having her feet cleaned and messed about with from the very early days of manning, after hunting my birds feet generaly are a mess with blood and mud, if it's real cold it's not always safe to provide a bath,so a quick clean up with a soft tooth brush and some mild soap solution is what i do, this also gives you the chance to give a quick check for minor injuries which may have been picked up during the day.

[Moses]

moses i should of said. f10 is made for birds.to get it i think garlands
sell it. about 11 pound a tub last ages though.

talon your an awesome lad, thanks a million mate :)


awesome advice jiff thanks alot :)

just scared when i get a hawk and so happy to train it and suddenly its feet gets infected and thats it out for months before i could even fly it free, so wanted to make sure i get it right when it comes to the foot infection plus bumblefoot

thanks alot guys

[Sokoly]

A soft tooth brush which is diped in to a sollution of coffe cup of watter and a teaspoon of kitchen salt. Gently rub the feet, after they are dry if they appear scally and very dry you can apply any kind of moisturazing cream for exemple some cream that you use for dry hands etc. It is a good practise once a month to keep the feet in good condition. I have seen it done in Dubai Falcon Hospital.
Also astroturf is the best surface for perches when birds stand on it they clean their feet off the teksture of the matterial.

Good luck

[Berkut]

At this time of year the birds feet tend to get dirty anyway.I use one of these plastic bottles you get at a garden centre and put warm water in it. Spray the feet , clean with a soft toothbrush and then spray it again. They even let me clean underneath. Also use these antiseptic wipes and once a week rub E45 into the feet. They come up a treat.

[Coedhirion]

Carry a bottle of water with spray nozle in the car. Wash blood off feet with it, if it is a very hot day birds and ferrets love a cool shower at the end of the day (not if its gonna b frosty of cors) Having checked the feet and bird for thorns plus the ferrets, any thing or any one with a scratch gets a blast from the trusty Savlon spray. In the mornings when I weigh the bird I oil the leather and that goes on to legs and talons too plus a little wipe around the beak. All set up to help shrug off the days mud an muck.