16 week old pullet with injured foot

[AWChickens]

I have a 4 month old frizzle pullet that seems to have injured one foot, and I'm not sure what to do. She and three other have been sharing a large metal dog crate in the garage for the last month (when the temp went below 20 I moved the younger ones inside). The floor of the cage is a plastic tray, covered in 1" of pine shavings. There are several roosts in the crate, blunt cornered 1'x1' wooden strips. The bedding is dry and no one else is showing any problems. I haven't had bumble foot before but after reading up on it and gout- I don't think that's what this is. No hard places or open sore, she's just holding one foot up, and when she walks she curls the toes under and sort of knuckles along on the top of her foot. Any ideas what I can do? I'm afraid she'll injure the leg and joints by walking the way she is- and I just have no idea what to do or how to treat this

 

[LynneP]

I'd suggest giving the birds some scrap pieces of 4x4's in the cage as mini-roosts. The 1x1" may be cramping their feet. The plastic on the base also might be too slippery and you could offer relief by giving them wider wood on which to rest. If you conclude this is the problem, offering a wooden floor might be an option. I'm also wondering if the base of the cage is cold.

 

[AWChickens]

I may just take the roosts out for now- I'll see if I have some larger scraps first. It stays about 45 degrees in the garage, and they have a nice, thick layer of pine shavings on top of the floor- do you think it still might be too cold?

 

[LynneP]

Possibly too cold on her feet especially if cramped foot on roost and cool to the touch when she gets down- no place for comfort...and your birds are not able to exercise to get their metabolism up as they once did. Even placing the crate on piece of plywood or OSB might help. It sounds as though your girl is avoiding the surface below her and has possibly slipped and is sore. If it is this you'll know fast and it's easily fixed!

Roosts- if you don't have 4x4, try scraps of 2x4 flat side up...

 

[AWChickens]

Okay, I'll try getting her off the floor. I was getting ready to take them back outside this weekend since it's warmed up....if she's just kept from breaking herself for 2 more days!

 

[LynneP]

It's been awful hasn't it? Glad they can get back to their coop!

 

[AWChickens]

Glad they can get back to their coop!

Me too, you have no idea! When it dropped below zero here last month, I had one little guy freeze to death, which just killed me. I have ceramic heaters which I only turn on if it gets below 20 (which is rarely here), and the adults all seemed fine. After I lost the little one though I moved all the younger birds up to the house, it's tighter quarters but I figured at least everyone would be warm!​

 

[LynneP]

I've gone to bed every night worried sick. We have an insulated coop and everyone has made it through, but the Arctic cold spell was so prolonged that I was nearly nauseous with newbie fear! And I have cold-hardy hens!

You'll know pretty fast if this is the problem. Everybody I know with chickens uses at least 4" wide perches to keep them comfy. My hens switched to a full platform when winter started. You did what was right by bringing them in, you have your remaining babies. Now, here's hoping the rest of the winter is sane...