Feet/Leg questions......

[PrettyChickens15]

This girl decided not to sleep in the coop on a night a couple months ago with temps in the low teens. Her foot looks like it is actually missing scales. She doesn't limp or act like it hurts unless I touch it.

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This one looks like she has growths? No limping. Not acting like she is in any pain.

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Her other foot looks really bad

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This hen limps a lot.
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Any help is greatly appreciated. I have kept chickens for 5 years and never had any feet issues at all.
Is it a coincidence that all of my hens with black feet have no problems? Would that have to do with their feet being black?

 

[Lazy Farmer]

I see no pix

 

[PrettyChickens15]

Can you not click on them?
I've been having trouble posting the pics.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Hardcore bumble foot infection.
@lazy gardener

 

[PrettyChickens15]

Do you know what I can do to help?

 

[lazy gardener]

agreed, last pic looks like bumble foot. So, it looks like you have 3 hens with foot issues? I'm primarily concerned about what might be going on to cause this problem. How many birds total? What is your general location? What is your coop and run set up like, including total sq. ft. of each. What is being used for bedding in each area? How deep is it? How high are the perches, and what are they perching on? What are you feeding them? Mill date and protein content of feed? Any other treats being given? Age of birds?

What is your general climate, and soil like? Moisture issues in coop, run, or in your yard?

First off, I would treat all birds for scaly leg mites. And in this case, since you also have some irritation and infection issues going on, I'd use Castor Oil. My friend @Beekissed is a great fan of CO for it's healing, and antibacterial properties.

I've only seen a very tiny case of bumble foot in my life time. It was so insignificant that after a failed attempt at bandaging with antibiotic ointment, I removed the dressing, and ignored it. I believe the onset was caused by me trying to catch a chicken who had taken refuge in the raspberry patch from a hawk. I believe she nailed the fat pad on a thorn. So, I'm not a good "go to" person for this. My inclination would be to take a wait and see attitude to see if it heals on it's own. Give her a location where she is not jumping up and down from high perch. Be sure there is plenty of soft litter in the coop.

 

[PrettyChickens15]

yes three hens. I've looked for leg mites, but couldn't find any. How could I treat that?
I have 14 hens. Use the deep litter method with pine shavings for the coop. 1-3 times a week through out some handfuls of corn. 7 hens are 5 years old including the girl with bumblefoot. 7 are 1-2 years old. They roost on smoothed down branches. Feed them layer pellets. I leave the food hanging in the coop. Some moisture gets in the coop from the roof, I'm working on fixing that. The run is always pretty dry. They free range 85% of the time.

What litter would you recommend? I thought about just leaving her foot like it is, but my dad read the infection can get really bad and poison her blood stream. He is willing to cut out the infection. Any thoughts on that? Maybe i could just leave it? I also found another area of bumblefoot on that same hens foot.

What about the leg scales missing on the other hen? Is that leg mites?
I have two other hens limping and I read that can be a sigh of more bumblefoot.
Should I separate the three with leg/foot problems?
Live in western Kentucky have clay soil.
I can get measurements of roost,run,coop and take some pictures when I get home.

 

[Eggcessive]

First soak their feet in warm water with Dish soap added. Take a toothbrush and gently brush the scales to loosen them. Dry well. Then apply an oil of your choice, and rub it in well under the scales. I use Crisco shortening which stays on for a long time, but castor oil, vaseline, vegetable oil, and mineral oil are good. Do this once a week.

For bumblefoot, you may want to soak their feet in warm Epsom salts to soften the bumblefoot scabs. I only do surgery if there is redness, swelling, limping, or the swelling seen in between the toes as yours have. Here is a good link about bumblefoot with a video of the surgery:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/bumblefoot-causes-treatment-warning/

 

[Eggcessive]

I forgot to mention that you cannot see the mites in scaly leg mites, but the ashy grey chaulky residue and the elevated scales are the signs. My chickens have had a lot of bumblefoot since the dirt around my coop has a lot of tiny sharp rocks and gravels that work their way to the top of the ground every year. I used to do a lot of surgery, but now only when there is an acute problem. Limping and a red swollen footpad are what I look for. You do have to do a little cutting and squeezing to get the solid plug of pus out of the footpad. The swollen bumps between toes may also need to be lanced and squeezed. A disposable scalpel and blades from Tractor Supply is good to use, rather than a knife.

 

[PrettyChickens15]

Thank you so much! Should I do the mites treatment for all of them?
What is the ratio of water to Epsom salts?
Do you know of anything I can do to help keep her calm and out of pain?