Can Chickens get Arthritis??????

[Eggcessive]

Are her feet discolored? Can you get more pictures of the feet in good light? It certainly could be frostbite, especailly if she stepped into water when the temps dropped. The picture below is what frostbite can look like:

 

[sourland]

Are her feet discolored? Can you get more pictures of the feet in good light? It certainly could be frostbite, especailly if she stepped into water when the temps dropped. The picture below is what frostbite can look like:

View attachment 1984092

Definite case where a picture is worth a thousand words.

 

[----------]

soak with epson salts get a toothbrush and clean up real good then put on coconut oil keep doing it for a few days give her some vit e and b complex too wont hurt . and some boiled eggs it should make her feel a little better maybe some baby asprin too

 

[aart]

get a toothbrush and clean up real good

Wouldn't want to do that if it's frostbite.

 

[Eggcessive]

soak with epson salts get a toothbrush and clean up real good then put on coconut oil keep doing it for a few days give her some vit e and b complex too wont hurt . and some boiled eggs it should make her feel a little better maybe some baby asprin too

Wouldn't want to do that if it's frostbite.

I would definitely not scrub or rub anything, now that there is a concern of possible frostbite, until that is ruled out. For scaly leg mites that would have been okay, but if there is frostbite, that could damage the skin. The soaking in warm water would be okay, but no massaging or scrubbing.

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

They aren't discolored. But I am starting to think it's frost bite. With the weather we're having it's totally possible. The only reason I suggested arthritis in the first place was because she's getting old. I'll try and get some better pictures later today when I soak her feet in warm water.

 

[Eggcessive]

You can spray the feet with Vetericyn, chlorhexidene, or Betadine, after soaking and drying her feet, but keep her somewhere warmer than in the coop. I really hope she dosen’t have frostbite. Each year we see many cases writtien about here where chickens lose toes or the entire feet. There are degrees of frostbite, and sometimes it takes a week or so to see the full extent of damage. The telltale signs are toes or feet becoming black and leathery. The graphic BYC pic below shows the line between healthy tissue and the black leathery toes that will soon fall off:

 

[Folly's place]

Hijacking here, but it seems to me that frostbitten feet are a management issue; wet bedding, feet in water dishes, standing on cold metal, or something? I'm not in Wyoming, but we do have cold weather here (9F overnight today!) and I've not had frostbitten toes or feet, ever.
Did I just curse my birds?
Any opinions on this management aspect?
Mary

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

Hijacking here, but it seems to me that frostbitten feet are a management issue; wet bedding, feet in water dishes, standing on cold metal, or something? I'm not in Wyoming, but we do have cold weather here (9F overnight today!) and I've not had frostbitten toes or feet, ever.
Did I just curse my birds?
Any opinions on this management aspect?
Mary

They do not have wet bedding or cold metal in their coop. Their water dish is an open rubber pan, but that's just because it's the only thing that works for the winter weather here.

No worries. I'm always willing to hear another opinion.

I've got her inside right now, with some food and water. She's eating, and when I went to catch her, she was actually walking, so I am betting that this has something to do with the temps. It's considerably warmer here today, about 21 degrees.

I'll get some pictures in a minute.

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

Here's a pic with the flash on. She just pooped. I don't know if it'll be any help, but here it is. Sorry if the lighting isn't great.