PLEASE HELP!!

I have a Sussex chicken that (based on information I've read from a variety of sources and from a thread my mom made a while back regarding this hen) has gout. She's had it for almost a year now. We first noticed it last winter, where she wasn't coping well with the cold. When the summer came around, she became more active and her swollen feet didn't seem to bother her so much anymore. We also changed her diet to a layer and starter feed mix, and fed her cherries and kiwis, after reading that that should help a little.

Here are some pictures of her feet:




Anyway, now it's mid-November in Canada and it's starting to get colder, and she doesn't seem to be handling it well. I'm worried about her because it hasn't even started to snow yet. Over the past couple of days she's gotten thinner, and I think she's sick. Her eyes are usually half-closed. She sleeps a lot. And she's not as quirky and curious as she used to be. She's a lot less active.




She stayed in our house last night, so she could be warm, but now we don't know what to do! She can't stay inside forever. We are currently building a new chicken coop that should be a lot warmer for all the hens, because it's going to be smaller and better insulated, but will it be enough for this hen? Even when winter comes around? We could put her in a separate coop in the garage, but then she would be separated from our other three chickens. What's the best thing to do right now?

She seems to be drinking a lot too. Has the gout completely ruined her kidneys? There is no vet nearby that we can take her to.

Please help! We're worried she might not pull through this.... Any replies are very much appreciated.

Hello and welcome to BYC!

I have a male Bobwhite quail with the exact problem. His feet look very similar to your hens feet. Gout is very similar to arthritis. He has been suffering for 3 years now and has taken to walking on his hocks for the most part. I have tried cherries, Apple Cider Vinegar, lowered his protein in take and nothing seems to have worked although the swelling in his feet and legs has lessened over the past year, finally.

I offer up an infra red heat lamp each morning during the winter or on days it doesn't get above freezing. These types of birds are colder than a healthier bird of their age and size. My male loves the heat and basks in it even long after it is quite warm in his coop. Infra red is a very healing light wave length. It penetrates instead of sitting on the surface of the skin as white light will do. It helps to increase blood circulation and heals deep tissue injury. Infra red therapy is given to patients with arthritis as well. But this light really helps limber up my male quail.

I think you are doing all you can, unless someone else can chime in here with more information. However I would add an infra red lamp to her once a day for an hour or as long as she is interested in sitting under it.

Good luck and I hope you can find her more relief!!

You should reduce the protein in her food!
Reed this links you will fyned alot of info!

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/search/?cat=0&q=Gout&x=-983&y=-8

Good luck and welcom to BYC!

Here is a good article about gout, which can affect the whole body:
http://www.hyline.com/aspx/redbook/redbook.aspx?s=5&p=36
and another which requires you to sign in:
https://en.engormix.com/MA-poultry-.../avian-gout-causes-treatment-t1246/165-p0.htm