2 yr old roo has developed a swollen foot and limp

[redbarnfeathers]

My 2 yr old welsummer roo has developed a swollen foot and limp, he seems fine in every other aspect, I have kept chickens for 3 years now and have never encountered this particular problem....I have looked for a briar or other injury and can't see anything wrong, it's not broken because he can walk on it, it is more swollen on the bottom of his claw underneath, at first I was sure he had just poked something in it, but it is not getting any better....

 

[Chicken Chat]

Is it swollen on the bottom foot pad or a toe? A few weeks ago, one of my silkie hens was limping. When I looked at her foot it was really swollen on the bottom foot pad and one toe underneath. It was more hard than soft, no fluid and no idea what happened. I didn't get a pic because she really doesn't like to be held or examined and I needed both hands. I applied diluted iodine to clean it and started slathering on bag balm to try and soften it up. Gave her extra vitamins in the water and kept her inside for a week and a half. She stopped limping and it looked like it was smaller and then looked like a really thick callus coming off so I put her back with the flock. It finally came off a few days later and her foot is completely normal now. Never did find out what caused it. I wonder if yours isn't the same thing.

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
It's possible he might have jammed something up under his claw while scratching the ground and it's something very tiny. You could soak his foot in warm epsom salts water for about 20 minutes, that might help draw it out. Then clean his foot off real well, then use a magnifying glass and flashlight to get a better look see. Hopefully you should be able to dig around abit with tweezers and pull whatever it is out, might even have to use a needle. If you draw blood digging it out, wipe it off with undiluted iodine or betadine. You can wrap him in a towel, cover his head and turn him on his side to do this...another person could hold him down.
Another possibilty is he couldve jumped down and sprained something, in the process hurting his toe/claw. He would need to be put in a cage with food and water for rest and relaxation, for a period of time til the swelling goes down.

 

[redbarnfeathers]

I will try that, I keep feeling like there is probably something stuck in there and I just can't see it, he is a big old roster and he don't much like being held, he is not aggressive at all, until it comes to holding him....thank you for the suggestion

 

[redbarnfeathers]

Chicken Chat, I checked and it is more swollen under his claw and toe, but no callus and does not appear injured in any way but the swollen"ness"? I am going to try the epson salts and bag balm, and the searching again for a small splinter or foreign object , I just keep going back to that in my head, that is what it appears to me, he is just a little difficult to handle, I will keep him confined for a couple of days to see how he does, many thanks for the suggestions guys..