Are Her Toenails the Problem?

[ClareScifi]

I have a sweet Barred Rock/Rhode Island Red Cross who is almost 8 years old. She is having trouble walking. She limps and stumbles. This has been going on for quite a while. I checked for bumblefoot, but that didn't seem to be the problem. I'm wondering whether I need to trim her toenails. Attached are pictures of them. What do you think? Or is it more likely some sort of arthritis? I have a Welsummer who kicks backwards when she walks in the winter but stops doing so when the weather warms up. She has arthritis, but I'm not sure what to think about this girl with the limping? She is still eating well and up and about, but walking is a struggle and she rests a lot. I don't think it's scaly leg mites nor worms. I don't want to stress her with nail clipping if you don't think that is her problem. I read usually hens manage to take good care of their own nails scratching in the dirt, but she is getting old and is a heavy breed. Her weight is good. She hasn't laid eggs for quite some time. I'm worried. No good bird vets in this area.

 

[BlueO]

Hey! Sorry your girl is not walking well! I would clip her nails and see if it makes a difference. I clip my ducks nails yearly because they just keep getting longer on the dirt. If I don’t they will break of and the duck will bleed a lot and it could get infected. I’m new to chickens though. Good luck!

 

[ClareScifi]

Hey! Sorry your girl is not walking well! I would clip her nails and see if it makes a difference. I clip my ducks nails yearly because they just keep getting longer on the dirt. If I don’t they will break of and the duck will bleed a lot and it could get infected. I’m new to chickens though. Good luck!

Thanks, BlueO. I am worried about hitting the quick and causing bleeding. What sort of clippers work best with ducks? I read that I should use either cat or dog nail clippers for this job?

 

[StinkyAcres]

It's likely that her nails grew too long because she can't walk well. I would trim a little off of them with dog nail clippers.

I have an old hen with arthritis (gout in her case) and I have been giving her tart cherry extract capsules for the past year. Even though the swelling in her feet hasn't gone down she is no longer stumbling and can now keep up with everyone else. I also switched the feed from layer pellets to chick starter to reduce the amount of calcium she gets (she doesn't need it because she doesn't lay eggs anymore).

These are the capsules I give her:https://www.amazon.com/Nutricost-Cherry-Extract-3000mg-Capsules/dp/B07TD6KJS3?

She gets one 3000mg capsule in the morning and one at night. I started by forcing her beak open and popping it in her mouth, but now she takes it out of my hand on her own and she looks forward to it every day.

 

[ClareScifi]

It's likely that her nails grew too long because she can't walk well. I would trim a little off of them with dog nail clippers.

I have an old hen with arthritis (gout in her case) and I have been giving her tart cherry extract capsules for the past year. Even though the swelling in her feet hasn't gone down she is no longer stumbling and can now keep up with everyone else. I also switched the feed from layer pellets to chick starter to reduce the amount of calcium she gets (she doesn't need it because she doesn't lay eggs anymore).

These are the capsules I give her:https://www.amazon.com/Nutricost-Cherry-Extract-3000mg-Capsules/dp/B07TD6KJS3?

She gets one 3000mg capsule in the morning and one at night. I started by forcing her beak open and popping it in her mouth, but now she takes it out of my hand on her own and she looks forward to it every day.

Thanks so much, StinkyAcres. I think I'll try it. If you notice in the pictures, her feet look bumpy. Could that bumpiness most likely be arthritis?

 

[StinkyAcres]

Thanks so much, StinkyAcres. I think I'll try it. If you notice in the pictures, her feet look bumpy. Could that bumpiness most likely be arthritis?

I don't really see it in the photos, but if they are bumpy it could be gout.

 

[townchicks]

Yes, her nails need trimming. They may not be causing the problem, but they may make her uncomfortable. You can use dog or cat or human nail trimmers. If you hold the nail up to a light, that helps to visualize the quick.

 

[StinkyAcres]

You know, looking at the photos again, her scales do seem quite raised. What makes you think it's not scaly leg mites? Have you tried covering her legs and feet in Vaseline?

 

[BlueO]

Thanks, BlueO. I am worried about hitting the quick and causing bleeding. What sort of clippers work best with ducks? I read that I should use either cat or dog nail clippers for this job?

You’re welcome! I hit flesh once or twice and the ducks don’t even flinch! I wouldn’t worry about that too much. I usually use old human nail clippers. Hope your girl gets better!

 

[coach723]

I agree the nails need to be trimmed. I also see what appears to be a mud pocket in one of the feet. That is when mud and droppings get stuck in a crevice or space, and it can be hard as concrete. They tend to get bigger over time and can obviously be very uncomfortable. That same foot may have some cracking in the foot pad as well, I can't tell if it's just dirt or the actual foot pad. I would soak her feet to soften it all up and use a soft toothbrush or cloth to clean them up really well to see how the foot actually looks. And work on getting any gunk in crevices and gaps out. I've circled what I'm talking about in the picture below.