RIR with swollen feet and legs, advice and help needed!

My hen is 4 1/2 months old and has swollen feet and legs that seem to be oozing blood. The bottom of the feet appear to be intact, no brown spots or cuts that I can see.
Her comb is also floppy. None of the other chickens in the flock have this.
She is still walking around, eating, and drinking normally as far as I can tell. The only recent change is I changed their bedding from wood shavings to straw. We live in a dry, warm area so the straw and coop are not moist. I clean it weekly and change the bedding. We haven't had any nights below 37 degrees.
Any ideas about what is? and what can I do?
Do I need to separate her from the other chickens?
Thanks!

I am not sure what is going on, but that looks very serious to me. She either has some sort of bacterial infection going on, or some other disease process happening. Foot pad dermatitis, or staph infection could be possible. I would get her to a vet right away. Could she have been injured or attacked by something? Her joints are swollen, there are cracks in her skin. She needs to have her feet soaked in warm epsom salts, and apply Neosporin to her legs. And she needs some serious antibiotics given.

Can you get some Baytril or get her to a vet? There are a lot of diseases that can affect the feet and legs, such as fowl pox, Mareks disease, scaly leg mites, bumblefoot, mycoplasma synovitis, gout, and footpad dermatitis, but I haven't seen pictures like this before. There is an overwhelming infection going on, and I would not waste time getting her on antibiotics. Have you ever had any mycoplasma or respiratory disease in your flock?

This is my first time having chickens and they have been healthy so far. None of the others show any sign of illness or injury. They were vaccinated against Mareks before I got them. It seems weird that it's in both legs so I am thinking it must be internal/systemic.

One disease I left out is viral arthritis, sometimes called tenosynovitis, which can progress into a bacterial synovitis later, and staph is a common bacteria found. It is usually in both legs and feet. If a vet is not possible, then I would start giving procaine penicillin G shots. Dosage is 1/4 ml or cc given 1/4 inch into the breast muscle daily for 4 days. Use a 20 gauge needle. But I would try to get a vet to see her, since we are only lay people mostly on here, not experts. Please keep us updated on her condition.

Eggcessive said:

One disease I left out is viral arthritis, sometimes called tenosynovitis, which can progress into a bacterial synovitis later, and staph is a common bacteria found. It is usually in both legs and feet. If a vet is not possible, then I would start giving procaine penicillin G shots. Dosage is 1/4 ml or cc given 1/4 inch into the breast muscle daily for 4 days. Use a 20 gauge needle. But I would try to get a vet to see her, since we are only lay people mostly on here, not experts. Please keep us updated on her condition.

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I'm leaning toward staphylococcal arthritis. Chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline or tylan will treat it, IF that's what it is. A vet would be your best bet.

Here is a portion of this link in the Merck Manual on staphyloccocus infection in poultry below: http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pou.../overview_of_staphylococcosis_in_poultry.html



Staphylococcosis is a bacterial disease that can affect a wide range of avian species, including poultry, and is seen worldwide.

Gangrenous dermatitis can occur after skin trauma and subsequent contamination withStaphylococcus. Immunocompromised birds have a higher prevalence of gangrenous dermatitis. Because Staphylococcus is found on the skin, skin injuries can also lead to localized abscesses, such as on the foot (bumblefoot). Finally, Staphylococcus can be dispersed systemically and can cause arthritis, synovitis, osteomyelitis, and endocarditis. Most Staphylococcus infections in poultry cause synovitis, with lameness being the most common clinical presentation. The bones and associated joints most frequently affected are those of the leg, especially the stifle and tibiotarsus


Treatment and Prevention

Staphylococcosis can be successfully treated with antibiotics, but an antimicrobial susceptibility test should be performed because antibiotic resistance is common. Antibiotics used to treat Staphylococcusinfections include penicillin, erythromycin, lincomycin, and spectinomycin. Proper management to prevent injury and immunocompromised poultry helps prevent staphylococcosis. Because wounds are the primary route by which Staphylococcus can enter the body, it is important to reduce all potential sources of injury to the bird. Wood splinters in litter, protruding wires from cages, and fighting/cannibalism have been associated with skin wounds and staphylococcosis. Because beak and toe trimming procedures in young chickens and turkeys could result in a staphylococcal septicemia, ensuring that equipment is sanitary will help to prevent outbreaks. Good litter management is important in controlling foot-pad injuries to prevent bumblefoot. Hatchery sanitation and good egg management practices are also important to reduce navel infections and omphalitis.

I still am not sure what caused all of this, but she is inproving! I have done Epsom salt soaks, cleaning her legs, and put her in oral tetracycline. Her legs are less swollen and red! Thanks so much for the help!

It looks like scald