Bumblefoot? Scaly leg? Gout? Whatever it is, it ain't pretty.

[Coney Cottage Homestead]

Honestly, after leaving for a two year mission trip I didn't expect to return home and find out this guy was still around. He was my beautiful prize Rhode Island Red rooster and sire to many of our other chickens. He's about 5 years old now(?) and has been a fantastic guardian of our hens. When I got home I found him at the bottom of the pecking order in our large stationary chicken coop(AKA Cluckin'ham Palace) and missing a bunch of feathers on his back end. I separated him from the flock promptly, but really what concerned me was the condition of his poor legs and feet. I've been reading all over and googling things trying to find a solution and figured I might as well ask on here too. My younger siblings(the stewards of the chickens during my absence) said he got some string stuck on his feet that initiated the swelling but when removed it just kept getting worse and worse. He doesn't favor one leg over the other, they seem to be in equally bad condition, unfortunately. We have sprinkled animal friendly DE(diatomaceous earth) on his legs the past couple days after a suggestion from a friend who got rid of leg mites that way. No results yet but that was recent.

Soon after my return I also moved most our younger birds into my chicken tractor fleet out in the yard. They are doing great! However, a couple of the remaining(older, slower, bigger) hens left behind in Cluckin'ham Palace are starting to look like they may have some mystery foot problem symptoms too. Red skin, a little bit of swelling maybe- it could just be my conscious worrying about it, but it's better to be safe than sorry on this one I'd think. I'm keeping them separated from my other birds, and will be thoroughly cleaning the coop and sprinkling more DE on their legs, on the perches and frequented walkways, in case of mites.

Any suggestions as to what this might be and how to solve/prevent it?

 

[Eggcessive]

Oh my, he looks to have a bad case of gout. There can be many possible causes and it can be hereditary sometimes. What does the bottom of the feet look like? Are there any scabs of bumblefoot? What do your chickens eat? If they are on layer feed, I would switch to Flock Raiser feed with less calcium. Put out some crushed oyster shell for those laying to take as needed for strong egg shells. Sour cherry extract is sometimes given to help with gout. A warm foot soak now and then if he will tolerate it might help.
https://thepoultrysite.com/articles/gout-management-in-poultry

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/gout-tart-cherry-dose.1319843/

 

[Coney Cottage Homestead]

Oh my, he looks to have a bad case of gout. There can be many possible causes and it can be hereditary sometimes. What does the bottom of the feet look like? Are there any scabs of bumblefoot? What do your chickens eat? If they are on layer feed, I would switch to Flock Raiser feed with less calcium. Put out some crushed oyster shell for those laying to take as needed for strong egg shells. Sour cherry extract is sometimes given to help with gout. A warm foot soak now and then if he will tolerate it might help.
https://thepoultrysite.com/articles/gout-management-in-poultry

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/gout-tart-cherry-dose.1319843/

Thank you for your reply! I'm thinking it is gout. The bottom of his feet look basically the same as they do up top- big, swollen and stretched. No scabbing, except on one toe on one foot which I believe is from a separate injury. Thanks for the helpful info!