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

fifibreen said:

I need help since I cannot find any information on what this is. I can only find info on bumblefoot, and I feel this is not a case of bumblefoot.

I have noticed particularly on my 3 year old barred rock hen that the webbing between their some of their toes was enlarged. I thought maybe they had been injured and it was swelling. One closer examination it appears that pockets holding impacted dirt and manure have formed in the toe webbing. By gently pushing I can remove the "mud balls" from the pockets in their toe webbing, but it quickly becomes impacted again. Other then regularly removing the "mud balls" I'm not sure what to do. I have now noticed my other barred rock hen is beginning to develop the same issue. I am watching all my chickens to see if this continues to develop on any other hens.

Is this a condition and what is it called?
Why, what causes it?
Will it cause lameness or infection?
How do I cure it?

So far the chickens are all eating, drinking, pooping, laying, walking normally. They don't show any discomfort or awareness of the issue.

Picture from top. Notice the bulge between the two toes.


You can see the "mud balls" in-between her toes


Here is a close up of the pockets in the toe webbing containing impacted mud and manure...



By gently pushing I can turn the toe web pocket inside out, and push out the hard "mud balls"


The "mud balls" come out rather easily.....



You can see the "mud ball" as it is removed from the toe web "pocket" they are pretty hard.


You can see the void that is left behind after the "mud ball" is removed. This void or pocket seems to fill back up with hard mud and manure pretty quickly. I try to empty the pockets several times a week.


The bulge is less pronounced after the material was removed. the skin is still loose and fills back up.

Click to expand...