Extra toe on leg

[tawnarae72]

I have a year old Rhode Island and noticed her favoring one leg. I caught her to inspect and noticed an extra toe on one foot and then noticed she has one coming out of her leg as well. I am winding if it the extra toe on the foot or on the leg that will be causing the pain. Any ideas. She is healthy. Lays an egg a day. Active. No issues other than limping. When standing she lifts the bad leg and stands on one leg.

 

[NatJ]

If she only recently started limping, then I would be looking for something that changed.

The extra toe on her foot looks like it's been there her whole life, and I know many chickens have extra toes and no problems (although it's usually an extra back toe, while her extra toe is facing forward.)

I have never seen even a photo of a chicken with a toe up on the leg like that, so I have no idea what effect that has on her. Does it look like it pokes her or gets bumped when she walks?

The weird toe on her leg has a really long nail, so you might try cutting the nail a bit shorter. Chickens have a quick inside the nail that bleeds if it gets cut, so either look to see if the quick is visible, or else cut a bit off the tip every day or so until you get it down to a reasonable length.

 

[tawnarae72]

The toe on her leg is straight out so it is not poking her. I have noticed a limp on her for a while but it is more pronounced recently then it was before. Does the bottom of her foot look inflamed or swollen to you?

 

[NatJ]

The toe on her leg is straight out so it is not poking her.

That's good. I couldn't tell for sure in the pictures.

I have noticed a limp on her for a while but it is more pronounced recently then it was before.

Do you know if the toe on her leg has been like that all her life, or if it developed later? Just because I've never seen anything like it, I am inclined to suspect it. Maybe the extra toe changes how the muscles move, or something like that. But I really don't know for sure.

Does the bottom of her foot look inflamed or swollen to you?

Not to me, but I'm not very good at spotting such things. Maybe someone with more experience can help here.

@Wyorp Rock
@azygous
@Eggcessive
Any ideas?

 

[tawnarae72]

Thank you

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The extra leg/toe is interesting. I wouldn't mess with that too much, but might be inclined to slowly start trimming the nail, but if it's not bothering her...
I would also rub some vaseline into the scales of that extra leg/toe. The raised scales may be an irritation or indication of scaly leg mites. Are there any raised scales on her legs?

Can you take a closer look at the place on her foot that I have circled? Hard to tell if that's dirt or a scab/poke to the foot.

 

[tawnarae72]

I will take a look and see if it is. Thank you