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

[fifibreen]

I do agree that is is a issue with the larger birds....mainly my barred rocks. My Brahmas have wider feet and it does not seem to form pockets like some of the others, although some debris can collect. My EEs are fine, my bantam EE is fine, my black marans have some issue but not as dramatic as the barred rocks. I have some younger Bielefelder pullets just maturing to lay and we will see as they fill out if they get the pockets like the barred rocks.

 

[jennyaaron57]

I have just "inherited" a large white hen and she had the same problem. Both of her feet had dirt balls impacted between her toes. Large! [ They were the size of marbles!] Just gently pushed them out and applied Nu-stock . Hope this takes care of the problem.

 

[TheLaboratoryBF]

Hate to dredge up an old post, but I just discovered this EXACT phenomenon happening with my barred rock hen (who also happens to be just over 3 years old) last evening...panicked a bit at first as I thought it was a mild case of bumblefoot, but after closer inspection, found that the crud balls could be pried out of the pocket after soaking the foot in warm soapy water for a few seconds. Like OP, I had to basically turn the pocket inside out by pushing on the flesh from the top of the foot and while my hen had one filled pocket on each foot, her right foot pocket was much larger and the crud ball was stuck to her flesh pretty well. She didn't fuss too much but I could tell she was uncomfortable as I pried it loose. Thankfully, there was no irritation or wound underneath, but I thoroughly washed her feet, applied Vetericyn, and an antibacterial ointment to be on the safe side.

She is a hatchery bird (although I'm not sure which hatchery as she was purchased as a chick at my local feed store), but has been my best hen; healthy, large, and friendly. There is no sand in my coop or run (other than what occurs naturally in the existing soil), and the litter in both is a mixture of fresh and dried grass clippings, pine shavings, leaves, and the natural ground underneath. None of my other birds have this issue.

Glad I found this thread as I wasn't sure what to make of it, but now I know it's just a physical abnormality of sorts.

 

[Angola]

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.

Its possible. I'm not sure when it started on the first chicken, but once I became aware of it I checked all the others. It was not until recently that the barred rock I have pictured developed a web pocket in one foot as well. That is when I became more concerned over the issue. Both of these barred rocks came from cackle hatchery so hopefully it is isolated be genetics. If there is another cause, my other chickens could develop the issue as well which is more the concern.

 

[Angola]

My rooster has exactly the same things as this. I can empty it like a pocket in your trousers but then it just fills up again. It gets really big so seems uncomfortable for him to walk on. Originally when I emptied it for the first time there was a wooden splinter inside with all the dirt around so I believe this is what caused it. The splinter made a hole and caused the pocket to form. As soon as I clean and sterilise it it fills up the next day. I have tried covering it with a bandage hoping that the skin will join up but he gets it off straight away. I am thinking of cleaning it out and using super glue to close it. It looks the same as your photos both before and after.

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.

 

[jonalisa]

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.

Its possible. I'm not sure when it started on the first chicken, but once I became aware of it I checked all the others. It was not until recently that the barred rock I have pictured developed a web pocket in one foot as well. That is when I became more concerned over the issue. Both of these barred rocks came from cackle hatchery so hopefully it is isolated be genetics. If there is another cause, my other chickens could develop the issue as well which is more the concern.

 

[Collie256]

Its possible. I'm not sure when it started on the first chicken, but once I became aware of it I checked all the others. It was not until recently that the barred rock I have pictured developed a web pocket in one foot as well. That is when I became more concerned over the issue. Both of these barred rocks came from cackle hatchery so hopefully it is isolated be genetics. If there is another cause, my other chickens could develop the issue as well which is more the concern.

I have the exact same problem at the moment! Although, my hen who does have it in one foot seems to not be eating, lethargic and lacks energy....although that could be a separate problem to this. My hen is almost 3 and my best guess is breeding issue. She is a commercial (chickens you see on hen egg ads) breed and I guess this just a complication that just occurs with age. Any tips and tricks to treat it that you've learned since you posted this comment would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[fifibreen]

I have the exact same problem at the moment! Although, my hen who does have it in one foot seems to not be eating, lethargic and lacks energy....although that could be a separate problem to this. My hen is almost 3 and my best guess is breeding issue. She is a commercial (chickens you see on hen egg ads) breed and I guess this just a complication that just occurs with age. Any tips and tricks to treat it that you've learned since you posted this comment would be greatly appreciated!!!

We ended up just emptying the pockets frequently. It seemed to help some. I think it helps reduce pressure and offer some comfort and help us keep an eye on it. I have another barred rock getting toe pockets currently.

 

[jonalisa]

I've always known this to be 'regular housekeeping' in caring for my hens. I have a sand run and I only see this when they get out to free-range. It's just being out in the mud, soil, poop, etc. I check and remove periodically. I try to stay in the habit of giving my chickens a once-over at least every few weeks.

 

[Victoria chickens]

Its possible. I'm not sure when it started on the first chicken, but once I became aware of it I checked all the others. It was not until recently that the barred rock I have pictured developed a web pocket in one foot as well. That is when I became more concerned over the issue. Both of these barred rocks came from cackle hatchery so hopefully it is isolated be genetics. If there is another cause, my other chickens could develop the issue as well which is more the concern.