chicken with sore feet

[jodes]

i have a chicken who appears to have sore feet, when she walks she limps and when shes standing she holds up one of her feet. she doesnt come out of her pen much lately i think shes brooding or shes depressed because her best chicken friend died (can chickens get depressed) i have 2 other chickens who seem to be fine
her feet appear to be dry looking but i cant see any sores on them i havent been able to have a real close look as she runs away and i dont want to upset her
does anyone have any idea what it might be and what i could do to help her

 

[spook]

One way you can get a hold on your birds is to go out after dark, speak to them and then look with flash light.
Not only could it be a foot problem, but toe nails can be irritated.
Perhaps if you was to soak her feet, it might help. Sorry that I can't give you any solutions yet me writing will bring attention to this. Good luck!

 

[flakey chick]

Are the scales on her legs raised? That would suggest scaly leg mites. If you could even post a picture I am sure that others can give you a better response, and yes- chickens can get depressed.

 

[mypicklebird]

Go out at night into the coop with a flashlight and scoop her up and off of her perch. Bring her in the house, barn, garage- somewhere well lit. Examine her feet. Top and bottom, look for swellings, sores, thickened areas- flaky raised scales, feel her feet for hot areas, feet her hock joint, put it through a range of motion (flex and extend it). Catch a normal chicken and bring it in for comparison. While you are at it, check the vents for lice.

Take a digital photo of anything that looks odd about the feet for people to see and make suggestions. Photos are worth..... alot of words.

Likely you have a festering wound (bumble foot) or scaly leg mites. You will be able to tell the difference if you look.

Get used to catching your chickens. Get a poultry net, you will need it eventually to catch someone who has escaped, is injured, or needs to be caught to be inspected or treated for something.

Being caught is briefly stressful for a chicken who is not used to this, but it is better to do it now than later when she is worse. The more you do it, the better you will be at it, and the more the chicken will learn that you are not trying to kill her, just holding her for a bit- then she gets scratch or something good.

chickens can miss their flock mates (or at least be stressed if a bird they prefer to hang out with has disappeared) , but it will not make a chicken limp.

 

[jodes]

thanks for the replies will be catching my chicken tonight to check her feet will post photos soon